Oracle date format to_char example
Jul 31, 2025 am 06:58 AM
TO_CHAR function is used to convert dates to strings in a specified format, 1. Use 'YYYY-MM-DD' to get 2025-04-05; 2. Use 'YYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS' to display the full time of the 24-hour system 2025-04-05 15:45:30; 3. Use 'DD-MON-YYY HH:MI AM' to contain AM/PM to display 05-APR-2025 03:45 PM; 4. Use 'FMMonth DD, YYYY' to remove the fill space to get April 5, 2025; 5. Use 'FMDay, Month DD, YYYY' to display the full week name Saturday, April 5, 2025; 6. Use 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS.FF3' for TIMESTAMP contains milliseconds 2025-04-05 15:45:30.123. Using the FM format modifier can avoid unnecessary spaces, and select a suitable format model based on actual needs to achieve accurate date display.
When working with dates in Oracle, the TO_CHAR function is commonly used to convert a DATE or TIMESTAMP value into a formatted string. This is especially useful for displaying dates in a specific format, such as for reports or user interfaces.
Here's a practical example of using TO_CHAR with various date format models:
Basic Syntax
TO_CHAR(date_value, 'format_model')
Common TO_CHAR Date Format Examples
Let's assume the current date is April 5, 2025, 3:45:30 PM .
1. TO_CHAR – Basic Date Formatting
SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'YYYY-MM-DD') AS formatted_date FROM dual; -- Results: 2025-04-05
2. Full Date and Time
SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS') AS full_datetime FROM dual; -- Results: 2025-04-05 15:45:30
Note:
HH24gives 24-hour format. UseHHfor 12-hour format.
3. With Month Name and AM/PM
SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'DD-MON-YYYY HH:MI AM') AS readable_date FROM dual; -- Results: 05-APR-2025 03:45 PM
4. More Readable Format with Spelled-Out Month
SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'Month DD, YYYY') AS pretty_date FROM dual; -- Results: April 05, 2025 -- Note: Extra spaces in 'Month' can be trimmed with 'FM'
Use FM (format modifier) to remove padding:
SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'FMMonth DD, YYYY') AS pretty_date FROM dual; -- Results: April 5, 2025
5. Include Day of the Week
SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'FMDay, Month DD, YYYY') AS day_included FROM dual; -- Results: Saturday, April 5, 2025
6. Timestamp with Milliseconds (for TIMESTAMP types)
SELECT TO_CHAR(CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS.FF3') AS timestamp_ms FROM dual; -- Results: 2025-04-05 15:45:30.123
Key Format Elements You Can Use
| Format | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
YYYY | 4-digit year | 2025 |
YY | 2-digit year | 25 |
MM | Month (01–12) | 04 |
MON | Abbreviated month | APR |
MONTH | Full month name | APRIL |
DD | Day of month (01–31) | 05 |
DY | Abbreviated day | SAT |
DAY | Full day name | SATURDAY |
HH or HH24 | Hour (12 or 24) | 03 or 15 |
MI | Minutes (00–59) | 45 |
SS | Seconds (00–59) | 30 |
AM / PM | Meridian indicator | PM |
FF3 | Milliseconds (3 digits) | 123 |
FM | Removes padding (leading spaces/zeros) | FMMonth → April instead of "April " |
Practical Tips
- Always use
FMwhen includingMonthorDayto avoid unwanted trailing spaces. - Be careful with
HHvsHH24— useHH24for unambiguous 24-hour time. - You can combine
TO_CHARwith other functions, like filtering:SELECT * FROM employees WHERE TO_CHAR(hire_date, 'YYYY') = '2025';
?? Note: Converting dates to strings in
WHEREclauses can hurt performance. Prefer date arithmetic when possible.
Basically,
TO_CHARgives you full control over how dates appear in your output. Just pick the format model that matches your needs.The above is the detailed content of Oracle date format to_char example. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!
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