Have you ever wondered why your database sorts strings differently than expected, or why a seemingly simple query delivers "quirky" results? If you’ve worked with databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQL Server, you’ve likely stumbled across the mysterious world of collation and the subtle but critical differences between VARBINARY and VARCHAR data types. In this article I hope to unravel these concepts for you, explore how collation shapes database behavior, and dive into an experimental case study to reveal surprising insights. Whether you’re a developer or a database engineer, this deep dive will equip you with practical knowledge to avoid common pitfalls and optimize your database designs. Let’s get started! What Is Collation and Why Does It Matter? Collation refers to the set of rules a database uses to compare and sort character strings. It governs how strings are ordered (e.g., is “Apple” less than “apple”?), how accents are treated (e.g., does “é” equal “e”?), and eve...