Converting Dates in MySQL: Format Your Date Correctly

Learn how to convert date formats in MySQL effectively with this comprehensive guide. Follow step-by-step instructions to avoid common errors and ensure proper date handling.
---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: MYSQL DATE_FORMAT Conversion

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Converting Dates in MySQL: Format Your Date Correctly

Working with dates in MySQL can sometimes be tricky, especially when your data isn't formatted in the accepted ISO date standard. A common concern among database administrators and developers is the need to convert date strings into the correct MySQL date format. If you've found yourself asking, "How can I convert 19/06/2021 21:06:55 into the proper MySQL date format?", you're not alone! This guide will guide you through the steps needed to accomplish this task without any errors.

Understanding the Problem

The Date Format

You may have a date string like 19/06/2021 21:06:55 that you want to convert into MySQL date format. The desired output looks like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The Error

When attempting to use the DATE_FORMAT() function directly with a non-ISO date string, you might encounter an error. For example, using the following SQL query:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This query does not work because the input is not in the right format that DATE_FORMAT() expects.

The Solution: Using STR_TO_DATE()

To correctly convert a date string into the desired MySQL date format, we need to utilize the STR_TO_DATE() function. This function allows us to interpret a string according to a specific format string.

Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the Input Format: In your case, the format of the date string is '%d/%m/%Y %H:%i:%s', which corresponds to:

%d: Day of the month (01 to 31)

%m: Month (01 to 12)

%Y: Year in four digits

%H: Hour (00 to 23)

%i: Minutes (00 to 59)

%s: Seconds (00 to 59)

Use STR_TO_DATE(): Implement the conversion with the correct function as shown below:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Breakdown of the SQL Query

STR_TO_DATE('19/06/2021 21:06:55', ...) takes the input string and converts it into a date.

The format string inside STR_TO_DATE() specifies how the input string is structured.

Expected Output

When you run the above query, the output will be:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

Converting dates in MySQL is straightforward when you use the right functions for the task at hand. By employing STR_TO_DATE(), you can easily change date formats from strings that do not comply with the ISO date standard.

Next time you find yourself with a date string that doesn’t seem to work, remember this method! With these simple steps, you can ensure that your date conversions are accurate and error-free.

Feel free to reach out if you have further questions on MySQL date conversions or any other database-related topics!