TO_DATE Function in Oracle

The TO_DATE() function in Oracle is used to convert a character string to a date format. It takes a string representing a date and converts it into a date data type. Below are some examples of how to use the TO_DATE() function in Oracle:-

1. Convert a string to a date:

SELECT TO_DATE('2024-03-22', 'YYYY-MM-DD') AS converted_date FROM dual;

Output: Converted_date: 22-MAR-24

2. Convert a string with time to a date:

SELECT TO_DATE('2024-03-22 12:30:45', 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS') AS converted_date FROM dual;

Output: Converted_date: 22-MAR-24 12:30:45

3. Convert a string with AM/PM indicator to a date:

SELECT TO_DATE('2024-03-22 03:30:45 PM', 'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS AM') AS converted_date FROM dual;

Output: Converted_date: 22-MAR-24 03:30:45 PM

4. Convert a string with abbreviated month name to a date:

SELECT TO_DATE('22-Mar-2024', 'DD-Mon-YYYY') AS converted_date FROM dual;

Output: Converted_date: 22-MAR-24

5. Convert a string with abbreviated month name and AM/PM indicator to a date:

SELECT TO_DATE('22-Mar-2024 03:30:45 PM', 'DD-Mon-YYYY HH:MI:SS AM') AS converted_date FROM dual;

Output: Converted_date: 22-MAR-24 03:30:45 PM

These examples demonstrate how to use the TO_DATE() function to convert various date formats represented as strings into actual date values in Oracle.

Here are five frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the TO_DATE() function in Oracle:-

1. What does the TO_DATE() function do in Oracle?

   - The TO_DATE() function converts a character string representing a date into a date data type in Oracle.

2. What is the syntax for the TO_DATE() function?

   - The syntax is TO_DATE(string, format), where string is the character string to be converted, and format specifies the format of the input string.

3. *How do I handle different date formats with TO_DATE()?

   - You specify the appropriate format model in the second argument of the TO_DATE() function to match the format of the input string. This ensures accurate conversion.

4. Can TO_DATE() handle date and time values?

   - Yes, the TO_DATE() function can handle date and time values by specifying the appropriate format model to include time components such as hour, minute, and second.

5. What happens if the input string format doesn't match the specified format in TO_DATE()?

   - If the input string format doesn't match the specified format in TO_DATE(), Oracle will raise an error. It's crucial to ensure that the format model matches the format of the input string to avoid errors.