As I mentioned earlier, all data coming from a User Interface (UI) will be character, you have to specifically convert it into the data type you need

In addition there will be numerous times where you need to convert a data type in order to evaluate it (Is this date later than that date)

You want to become a conversion animal, where you are the master of conversions and no conversion makes you uncomfortable

String

Number

Date

Is Everything convertible?

Data Conversion Is Unavoidable