SQL DATE_FORMAT: Format Dates as Strings (All Databases)

Overview

Every database formats dates differently. This guide shows how to convert dates to any string format you need.

MySQL

-- DATE_FORMAT(date, format):
SELECT DATE_FORMAT(NOW(), '%Y-%m-%d');          -- '2026-03-12'
SELECT DATE_FORMAT(NOW(), '%M %d, %Y');         -- 'March 12, 2026'
SELECT DATE_FORMAT(NOW(), '%d/%m/%Y');           -- '12/03/2026'
SELECT DATE_FORMAT(NOW(), '%H:%i:%s');           -- '14:30:00'
SELECT DATE_FORMAT(NOW(), '%W, %M %d, %Y');     -- 'Thursday, March 12, 2026'

-- Format codes: %Y=year, %m=month, %d=day
-- %H=hour24, %h=hour12, %i=minute, %s=second
-- %M=month name, %W=weekday name, %b=abbreviated month

PostgreSQL

-- TO_CHAR(date, format):
SELECT TO_CHAR(NOW(), 'YYYY-MM-DD');              -- '2026-03-12'
SELECT TO_CHAR(NOW(), 'Month DD, YYYY');          -- 'March    12, 2026'
SELECT TO_CHAR(NOW(), 'FMMonth DD, YYYY');        -- 'March 12, 2026'
SELECT TO_CHAR(NOW(), 'DD/MM/YYYY');              -- '12/03/2026'
SELECT TO_CHAR(NOW(), 'HH24:MI:SS');              -- '14:30:00'
SELECT TO_CHAR(NOW(), 'Day, FMMonth DD, YYYY');   -- 'Thursday, March 12, 2026'

-- FM prefix removes padding spaces

SQL Server

-- FORMAT (SQL Server 2012+):
SELECT FORMAT(GETDATE(), 'yyyy-MM-dd');            -- '2026-03-12'
SELECT FORMAT(GETDATE(), 'MMMM dd, yyyy');         -- 'March 12, 2026'
SELECT FORMAT(GETDATE(), 'dd/MM/yyyy');             -- '12/03/2026'
SELECT FORMAT(GETDATE(), 'HH:mm:ss');               -- '14:30:00'

-- CONVERT with style codes (faster):
SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR, GETDATE(), 23);   -- '2026-03-12' (ISO)
SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR, GETDATE(), 101);  -- '03/12/2026' (US)
SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR, GETDATE(), 103);  -- '12/03/2026' (UK)

Oracle

-- TO_CHAR(date, format):
SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'YYYY-MM-DD') FROM DUAL;          -- '2026-03-12'
SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'Month DD, YYYY') FROM DUAL;       -- 'March 12, 2026'
SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'DD/MM/YYYY') FROM DUAL;
SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'HH24:MI:SS') FROM DUAL;
SELECT TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'Day, Month DD, YYYY') FROM DUAL;

Skip the Syntax Lookup

Instead of memorizing DATE_FORMAT / FORMAT / TO_CHAR syntax for each database, describe what you need in plain English and let AI2SQL generate the correct query.

Frequently Asked Questions