title: SQL Server indexing - varchar(100) vs varbinary(100)? [convert data]
body: <p>Is it better to set an index (primary or secondary) on a <code>varchar(x)</code> or <code>varbinary(x)</code> column? </p>
  
  <p>I wasn't sure it even mattered. However what I see online (Googled - varchar vs varbinary) is that <code>varchar</code> is almost dead or being pushed to the way side. So is this better to index or something? Could it be the type of index?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Excellent scenario:</strong> Indexing email addresses (<strong>[edit]</strong> encrypted byte array {varbinary} or string equivalent {varchar})</p>
  
  <p>Thanks</p>
  
  <h2>Answer?</h2>
  
  <p>It seems that indexes on <code>varbinary</code> is the worst thing ever. Am I reading this right?</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/sqlserver/en-US/35b61bb0-1fa8-4a2f-a9fb-729a1874dcf8/clustered-index-on-a-varbinary-column" rel="nofollow">https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/sqlserver/en-US/35b61bb0-1fa8-4a2f-a9fb-729a1874dcf8/clustered-index-on-a-varbinary-column</a></p>