I actually saw this table definition once:
CREATE TABLE personnel
( id INT PRIMARY KEY
, pers_col1 VARCHAR(100)
, pers_col2 VARCHAR(25)
);
This is simplified from the actual implementation (there were more columns), but you get the gist. I'm convinced that the developer simply used the default wizard and increased the column size when it didn't work.
Granted, a detailed data dictionary that documents every column, it's usage and definition can be tremendously valuable. However, I propose that you start by defining a set of functional attribute types, map these to a default set of database column types and use the names of these attribute types (or a standard abbreviation) as the suffix of the type.
Here are the ones I always use with the default MySQL Column definition:
| Attribute Type | Abbreviation | Definition | MySQL Column Type |
| identifier | id | An abstract value that uniquely identifies an entity. | int(11) |
| globally unique identifier | gd | Special case of an Identifier, where the value is a 32 character hexadecimal value designed to be unique in every context. | char(32) |
| name | nm | The name ascribed to an entity which is normally used to identify it. | varchar(100) |
| number | nb | A human readable identifying value. (e.g., Part Numbers or Social Security Number) | varchar(50) |
| code | cd | A short value identifying a classification or category. These are human readable and should be avoided unless the implementation requires coding according to a standards guide. For example, "CAT5" or "CAT6" are codes. | varchar(25) |
| date | da | Contains only the calendar date | date |
| time | tm | Contains only the time of day | datetime |
| quantity | qt | A numeric measure of something which uses some unit of merit, such as pounds, meters, or liters. | float |
| count | ct | The number of things in the identified set. | int |
| amount | am | A financial quantity, expressed in some defined currency. | decimal(30,15) |
| description | ds | A long text which is used to describe the entity to the user | varchar(500) |
| sequence | sq | A value used to order items within a group | int |
| timestamp | ts | An audit value indicating the system time at which something occurred. | datetime |
| flag | fg | A boolean value. This is used when an entity is or isn't. I prefer the term flag, over "boolean" because that's what these columns do, they "flag" something about the entity. | boolean |
On a slightly different note:
When naming columns also beware of homonyms and synonyms. They can bite you in the behind if you're not careful to avoid them whenever possible and document every time you can't avoid it.
