Why the 16 character MySQL database name limit?

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This Hostgator support thread was started by cbassett03 on 2010-07-05 00:07:35:

Why is there a sixteen character limit when naming MySQL databases (including the username)? Is this a limit of the server or the MYSQL system itself?

I thought you were able to specify names longer than that (like 24 or 32 characters). At least, i thought that’s how it was on my first hosting plan (which was a Baby plan. My current plan is/was a Hatchling plan).

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