---
title: "Binary data types"
url: "https://docs.yugabyte.com/stable/api/ysql/datatypes/type_binary/"
---

# Binary data types

Use the BYTEA data type to represent binary string of bytes (octets).

## Synopsis

Use the `BYTEA` data type to represent binary string of bytes (octets). Binary strings allow zeros (`0`) and non-printable bytes.

| Data type | Description                   |
|-----------|-------------------------------|
| BYTEA     | Variable length binary string |

## Description

- `BYTEA` is used to declare a binary entity.

```
type_specification ::= BYTEA
```

- Escaped input can be used for input binary data.

```
SELECT E'\\001'::bytea
```