diff --git a/ddl/db_test.go b/ddl/db_test.go
index 30ca271169..447b8d9f3d 100644
--- a/ddl/db_test.go
+++ b/ddl/db_test.go
@@ -4269,6 +4269,44 @@ func (s *testDBSuite4) TestIssue9100(c *C) {
 	c.Assert(err.Error(), Equals, "[ddl:1503]A PRIMARY must include all columns in the table's partitioning function")
 }
 
+func (s *testSerialDBSuite) TestProcessColumnFlags(c *C) {
+	// check `processColumnFlags()`
+	tk := testkit.NewTestKit(c, s.store)
+	tk.MustExec("use test_db")
+	tk.MustExec("create table t(a year(4) comment 'xxx', b year, c bit)")
+	defer s.mustExec(tk, c, "drop table t;")
+
+	check := func(n string, f func(uint) bool) {
+		t := testGetTableByName(c, tk.Se, "test_db", "t")
+		for _, col := range t.Cols() {
+			if strings.EqualFold(col.Name.L, n) {
+				c.Assert(f(col.Flag), IsTrue)
+				break
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	yearcheck := func(f uint) bool {
+		return mysql.HasUnsignedFlag(f) && mysql.HasZerofillFlag(f) && !mysql.HasBinaryFlag(f)
+	}
+
+	tk.MustExec("alter table t modify a year(4)")
+	check("a", yearcheck)
+
+	tk.MustExec("alter table t modify a year(4) unsigned")
+	check("a", yearcheck)
+
+	tk.MustExec("alter table t modify a year(4) zerofill")
+
+	tk.MustExec("alter table t modify b year")
+	check("b", yearcheck)
+
+	tk.MustExec("alter table t modify c bit")
+	check("c", func(f uint) bool {
+		return mysql.HasUnsignedFlag(f) && !mysql.HasBinaryFlag(f)
+	})
+}
+
 func (s *testSerialDBSuite) TestModifyColumnCharset(c *C) {
 	tk := testkit.NewTestKit(c, s.store)
 	tk.MustExec("use test_db")
diff --git a/ddl/ddl_api.go b/ddl/ddl_api.go
index ee6d9d40b4..3c2594015d 100644
--- a/ddl/ddl_api.go
+++ b/ddl/ddl_api.go
@@ -491,6 +491,30 @@ func isExplicitTimeStamp() bool {
 	return true
 }
 
+// processColumnFlags is used by columnDefToCol and processColumnOptions. It is intended to unify behaviors on `create/add` and `modify/change` statements. Check tidb#issue#19342.
+func processColumnFlags(col *table.Column) {
+	if col.FieldType.EvalType().IsStringKind() && col.Charset == charset.CharsetBin {
+		col.Flag |= mysql.BinaryFlag
+	}
+	if col.Tp == mysql.TypeBit {
+		// For BIT field, it's charset is binary but does not have binary flag.
+		col.Flag &= ^mysql.BinaryFlag
+		col.Flag |= mysql.UnsignedFlag
+	}
+	if col.Tp == mysql.TypeYear {
+		// For Year field, it's charset is binary but does not have binary flag.
+		col.Flag &= ^mysql.BinaryFlag
+		col.Flag |= mysql.ZerofillFlag
+	}
+
+	// If you specify ZEROFILL for a numeric column, MySQL automatically adds the UNSIGNED attribute to the column.
+	// See https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/numeric-type-overview.html for more details.
+	// But some types like bit and year, won't show its unsigned flag in `show create table`.
+	if mysql.HasZerofillFlag(col.Flag) {
+		col.Flag |= mysql.UnsignedFlag
+	}
+}
+
 // columnDefToCol converts ColumnDef to Col and TableConstraints.
 // outPriKeyConstraint is the primary key constraint out of column definition. such as: create table t1 (id int , age int, primary key(id));
 func columnDefToCol(ctx sessionctx.Context, offset int, colDef *ast.ColumnDef, outPriKeyConstraint *ast.Constraint) (*table.Column, []*ast.Constraint, error) {
@@ -603,26 +627,9 @@ func columnDefToCol(ctx sessionctx.Context, offset int, colDef *ast.ColumnDef, o
 	// Set `NoDefaultValueFlag` if this field doesn't have a default value and
 	// it is `not null` and not an `AUTO_INCREMENT` field or `TIMESTAMP` field.
 	setNoDefaultValueFlag(col, hasDefaultValue)
-	if col.FieldType.EvalType().IsStringKind() && col.Charset == charset.CharsetBin {
-		col.Flag |= mysql.BinaryFlag
-	}
-	if col.Tp == mysql.TypeBit {
-		// For BIT field, it's charset is binary but does not have binary flag.
-		col.Flag &= ^mysql.BinaryFlag
-		col.Flag |= mysql.UnsignedFlag
-	}
-	if col.Tp == mysql.TypeYear {
-		// For Year field, it's charset is binary but does not have binary flag.
-		col.Flag &= ^mysql.BinaryFlag
-		col.Flag |= mysql.ZerofillFlag
-	}
 
-	// If you specify ZEROFILL for a numeric column, MySQL automatically adds the UNSIGNED attribute to the column.
-	// See https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/numeric-type-overview.html for more details.
-	// But some types like bit and year, won't show its unsigned flag in `show create table`.
-	if mysql.HasZerofillFlag(col.Flag) {
-		col.Flag |= mysql.UnsignedFlag
-	}
+	processColumnFlags(col)
+
 	err = checkPriKeyConstraint(col, hasDefaultValue, hasNullFlag, outPriKeyConstraint)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, errors.Trace(err)
@@ -3399,9 +3406,7 @@ func processColumnOptions(ctx sessionctx.Context, col *table.Column, options []*
 	// it is `not null` and not an `AUTO_INCREMENT` field or `TIMESTAMP` field.
 	setNoDefaultValueFlag(col, hasDefaultValue)
 
-	if col.Tp == mysql.TypeBit {
-		col.Flag |= mysql.UnsignedFlag
-	}
+	processColumnFlags(col)
 
 	if hasDefaultValue {
 		return errors.Trace(checkDefaultValue(ctx, col, true))