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TO_DATE

Applies to: ✅ Data 360 SQL ✅ Tableau Hyper API

Converts a string to a date value by interpreting it according to the specified format pattern.

Syntax

to_date(<text>, <format_pattern>)

Arguments

Required

  • <text>: The string to convert to a date.
  • <format_pattern>: A text pattern that describes the format of <text>. For supported pattern characters and modifiers, see TO_CHAR.

Returns

Returns a date value.

Returns NULL if either argument is NULL.

Considerations

  • TO_DATE converts source strings in formats that a direct cast can't handle. For most standard date formats, cast the string directly to date instead.
  • Template characters in the pattern that don't match a date field are skipped in the input string. For example, literal separators such as - or / in the format pattern skip the corresponding characters in the input.
  • YYYY can't process a year with more than four digits. Use a non-digit separator after the year for five-or-more digit years — for example, to_date('20000-11-30', 'YYYY-MM-DD').

Examples

Parse a Date from a Long-Form String

Convert a written-out date string to a date value.

SELECT to_date('05 Dec 2000', 'DD Mon YYYY');

Returns 2000-12-05.

Parse a Date with Numeric Separators

Convert a slash-delimited date string.

SELECT to_date('12/31/2024', 'MM/DD/YYYY');

Returns 2024-12-31.

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