mysql function, how to refer to table field datatype

Question

in MYSQL i have a myfield column in mytable table which has let's say a varchar(8) data type

CREATE TABLE mytable  ( 
    id      INT  NOT NULL,
    myfield VARCHAR( 8 ))

in a function or procedure i'd like to refer to myfield datatype, something like that:

DECLARE myvar mytable.myfield%TYPE

in alternative to explicitly declare it

DECLARE myvar VARCHAR( 8 )

Is there a way in a MYSQL function or procedure, to refer to a column datatype when declaring variable o return type? thanks

Answer 1

There is no way to do that in MySQL. DECLARE must statically declare a variable's type and size.