to_char

This function is used to convert a date into a string in a specified format.

Syntax

to_char(string date, string format)

Parameters

Table 1 Parameters

Parameter

Mandatory

Type

Description

date

Yes

DATE

or

STRING

Date that needs to be processed

The following formats are supported:

  • yyyy-mm-dd

  • yyyy-mm-dd hh:mi:ss

  • yyyy-mm-dd hh:mi:ss.ff3

format

Yes

STRING

Format of the date to be converted

Constant of the STRING type. Extended date formats are not supported.

The value is a combination of the time unit (year, month, day, hour, minute, and second) and any character.

  • YYYY or yyyy indicates the year.

  • MM indicates the month.

  • mm indicates the minute.

  • dd indicates the day.

  • HH indicates the 24-hour clock.

  • hh indicates the 12-hour clock.

  • mi indicates the minute.

  • ss indicates the second.

  • SSS indicates millisecond.

Return Values

The return value is of the STRING type.

Note

  • If the value of date is not of the DATE or STRING type, the error message "data type mismatch" is displayed.

  • If the value of date is of the DATE or STRING type but is not in one of the supported formats, NULL is returned.

  • If the value of format is NULL, NULL is returned.

Example Code

The static data 2023-08*16 is returned.

select to_char('2023-08-16 10:54:36','Example static data yyyy-mm*dd');

The value 20230816 is returned.

select to_char('2023-08-16 10:54:36', 'yyyymmdd');

The value NULL is returned.

select to_char('Example static data 2023-08-16','Example static data yyyy-mm*dd');

The value NULL is returned.

select to_char('20230816', 'yyyy');

The value NULL is returned.

select to_char('2023-08-16 10:54:36', null);