How to Return Only the Date from a SQL Server DateTime Datatype

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Summary: Learn how to extract only the date part from a SQL Server DateTime datatype using various SQL methods. Enhance your SQL queries by understanding different approaches to format and retrieve date values effectively.
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When working with SQL Server, you might often encounter situations where you need to extract only the date part from a DateTime datatype, leaving out the time portion. This can be useful for reporting, comparisons, or formatting data for display. Here are several methods to achieve this:

Using the CAST or CONVERT Functions

SQL Server provides the CAST and CONVERT functions to handle type conversions. These functions can be used to convert a DateTime value to a Date value.

Using CAST:

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Using CONVERT:

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Both methods effectively strip the time portion and return only the date.

Using the FORMAT Function

The FORMAT function can also be used to return the date part from a DateTime datatype. This function is more flexible for formatting but is generally slower than CAST or CONVERT.

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Using Date Functions

In older versions of SQL Server (prior to SQL Server 2008), you might need to use date functions to extract the date part. Here are some common approaches:

Using DATEADD and DATEDIFF:

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Using SUBSTRING:

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Practical Example

Here's a practical example assuming you have a table called Orders with a DateTime column named OrderDate.

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Conclusion

Extracting only the date from a DateTime datatype in SQL Server can be accomplished using various methods, each with its advantages. The CAST and CONVERT functions are straightforward and efficient for most use cases. The FORMAT function offers flexibility in formatting, while older techniques like DATEADD/DATEDIFF and SUBSTRING provide compatibility with earlier SQL Server versions.

Understanding these methods allows you to handle date and time data more effectively, ensuring your queries and reports are accurate and well-formatted.