Understanding Date Format Styles in SQL Server

Learn how to use date format styles in SQL Server's convert function. This guide provides a comprehensive guide and a runnable example to help you master date formatting in MS-SQL Server.
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When working with dates in MS-SQL Server, it's crucial to be able to format them according to your needs. The CONVERT function is a powerful tool for this purpose, allowing you to transform date and time values into different formats. In this guide, we will explore the use of date format styles with the CONVERT function in SQL Server.

The CONVERT Function

The CONVERT function in SQL Server is used to convert an expression from one data type to another. When dealing with dates, it allows you to format the date in a specific way using style codes.

Here's the basic syntax of the CONVERT function:

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data_type: The target data type.

expression: The value to be converted.

style: An integer that represents the style of the date format.

Date Format Styles

SQL Server provides a variety of style codes for date formats. These style codes determine how the date and time values are displayed. Some common styles include:

101: mm/dd/yyyy

103: dd/mm/yyyy

120: yyyy-mm-dd hh:mi:ss

Example

Let's consider a practical example. Suppose you have a table named Orders with a column OrderDate of type DATETIME. You want to retrieve the order dates in the format 'YYYY-MM-DD'.

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In this example, the CONVERT function is used with style code 120 to format the OrderDate as 'YYYY-MM-DD hh:mi:ss'. The result set will display the OrderID and the formatted OrderDate.

Conclusion

Understanding date format styles in SQL Server is essential for displaying date and time values in a readable format. The CONVERT function, combined with style codes, provides a flexible way to achieve this. Whether you need dates in a standard 'mm/dd/yyyy' format or a custom format, mastering date formatting in SQL Server is a valuable skill for database developers.