MySQL DATE_FORMAT() function
DATE_FORMAT() function
MySQL DATE_FORMAT() formats a date as specified in the argument. A list of format specifiers given bellow may be used to format a date. The ‘%’ is required before the format specifier characters. It's a versatile function that helps present date and time information in various desired formats.
This function is useful in -
- The primary purpose of the DATE_FORMAT() function is to allow you to customize the way date and datetime values are displayed.
- In graphical user interfaces (GUIs), DATE_FORMAT() helps display dates in formats that match the UI design, creating a cohesive user experience.
- DATE_FORMAT() is essential for filtering and sorting date-based data in specific formats, ensuring accurate comparisons and ordering.
- In applications that are used in different countries, DATE_FORMAT() helps adapt date representations to the local date format conventions.
- When exporting or importing data to/from external systems, DATE_FORMAT() ensures that the date format is consistent with the target system's requirements.
- DATE_FORMAT() is used to format dates in a way that is familiar to users based on their cultural or regional preferences.
Syntax:
DATE_FORMAT(date,format)
Arguments:
Name | Description |
---|---|
date | A date. |
format | Indicates how to format a date. |
Syntax Diagram:

MySQL Version: 8.0
Table of format specifiers
Name | Description |
---|---|
%a | Abbreviated weekday name (Sun..Sat) |
%b | Abbreviated month name (Jan..Dec) |
%c | Month, numeric (0..12) |
%D | Day of the month with English suffix (0th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, …) |
%d | Day of the month, numeric (00..31) |
%e | Day of the month, numeric (0..31) |
%f | Microseconds (000000..999999) |
%H | Hour (00..23) |
%h | Hour (01..12) |
%I | Hour (01..12) |
%i | Minutes, numeric (00..59) |
%j | Day of year (001..366) |
%k | Hour (0..23) |
%l | Hour (1..12) |
%M | Month name (January..December) |
%m | Month, numeric (00..12) |
%p | AM or PM |
%r | Time, 12-hour (hh:mm:ss followed by AM or PM) |
%S | Seconds (00..59) |
%s | Seconds (00..59) |
%T | Time, 24-hour (hh:mm:ss) |
%U | Week (00..53), where Sunday is the first day of the week |
%u | Week (00..53), where Monday is the first day of the week |
%V | Week (01..53), where Sunday is the first day of the week; used with %X |
%v | Week (01..53), where Monday is the first day of the week; used with %x |
%W | Weekday name (Sunday..Saturday) |
%w | Day of the week (0=Sunday..6=Saturday) |
%X | Year for the week where Sunday is the first day of the week, numeric, four digits; used with %V |
%x | Year for the week, where Monday is the first day of the week, numeric, four digits; used with %v |
%Y | Year, numeric, four digits |
%y | Year, numeric (two digits) |
%% | A literal “%” character |
%x | x, for any “x” not listed above |
Pictorial Presentation:

Example: MySQL DATE_FORMAT() function
select date_format(date, '%a %D %b %Y')
as formatted_date
from table_name;
Where date is the name of your date field, and formatted_date is a column alias which you can use as a column heading.
Example Date: 11th February 2011 Replace date with the name of your date field... |
|
date_format String | Example |
---|---|
'%Y-%m-%d' | 2011-02-11 |
'%e/%c/%Y' | 11/2/2011 UK |
'%c/%e/%Y' | 2/11/2011 US |
'%d/%m/%Y' | 11/02/2011 UK |
'%m/%d/%Y' | 02/11/2011 US |
'%e/%c/%Y %H:%i' | 11/2/2011 12:30 UK |
'%c/%e/%Y %H:%i' | 2/11/2011 12:30 US |
'%d/%m/%Y %H:%i' | 11/02/2011 12:30 UK |
'%m/%d/%Y %H:%i' | 02/11/2011 12:30 US |
'%e/%c/%Y %T' | 11/2/2011 12:30:10 UK |
'%c/%e/%Y %T' | 2/11/2011 12:30:10 US |
'%d/%m/%Y %T' | 11/02/2011 12:30:10 UK |
'%m/%d/%Y %T' | 02/11/2011 12:30:10 US |
'%a %D %b %Y' | Fri 11th Feb 2011 |
'%a %D %b %Y %H:%i' | Fri 11th Feb 2011 12:30 |
'%a %D %b %Y %T' | Fri 11th Feb 2011 12:30:10 |
'%a %b %e %Y' | Fri Feb 11 2011 |
'%a %b %e %Y %H:%i' | Fri Feb 11 2011 12:30 |
'%a %b %e %Y %T' | Fri Feb 11 2011 12:30:10 |
'%W %D %M %Y' | Friday 11th February 2011 |
'%W %D %M %Y %H:%i' | Friday 11th February 2011 12:30 |
'%W %D %M %Y %T' | Friday 11th February 2011 12:30:10 |
'%l:%i %p %b %e, %Y' | 12:30 PM Feb 11, 2011 |
'%M %e, %Y' | February 11, 2011 |
The following statement will format the specified datetime 2008-05-15 22:23:00 according to the format specifier %W %D %M %Y. Here date has been formatted with week day name, day of the month with english suffix, month name and year in numeric.
Code:
SELECT DATE_FORMAT('2008-05-15 22:23:00', '%W %D %M %Y');
Output:
mysql> SELECT DATE_FORMAT('2008-05-15 22:23:00', '%W %D %M %Y'); +---------------------------------------------------+ | DATE_FORMAT('2008-05-15 22:23:00', '%W %D %M %Y') | +---------------------------------------------------+ | Thursday 15th May 2008 | +---------------------------------------------------+ 1 row in set (0.01 sec)
Example: DATE_FORMAT() function with (%r) specifier
The following statement will format the specified datetime 2008-05-15 22:23:00 according to the format specifier %r. Here the function returns the time in 12-hour format followed by AM or PM.
Code:
SELECT DATE_FORMAT('2008-05-15 22:23:00', '%r');
Output:
mysql> SELECT DATE_FORMAT('2008-05-15 22:23:00', '%r'); +------------------------------------------+ | DATE_FORMAT('2008-05-15 22:23:00', '%r') | +------------------------------------------+ | 10:23:00 PM | +------------------------------------------+ 1 row in set (0.00 sec)
Example: DATE_FORMAT() function using table
The following statement will format the specified ‘ord_date’ column from purchase table according to the format specifier %W %D %M %Y and display all the rows.
Sample table: purchase
Code:
SELECT invoice_no,ord_date, DATE_FORMAT(ord_date,'%W %D %M %Y')
FROM purchase;
Output:
mysql> SELECT invoice_no,ord_date,DATE_FORMAT(ord_date,'%W %D %M %Y') -> FROM purchase; +------------+------------+-------------------------------------+ | invoice_no | ord_date | DATE_FORMAT(ord_date,'%W %D %M %Y') | +------------+------------+-------------------------------------+ | INV0001 | 2008-07-06 | Sunday 6th July 2008 | | INV0002 | 2008-08-09 | Saturday 9th August 2008 | | INV0003 | 2008-09-15 | Monday 15th September 2008 | | INV0004 | 2007-08-22 | Wednesday 22nd August 2007 | | INV0005 | 2007-06-25 | Monday 25th June 2007 | | INV0006 | 2007-09-20 | Thursday 20th September 2007 | +------------+------------+-------------------------------------+ 6 rows in set (0.09 sec)
Example: DATE_FORMAT() function with where
The following statement will format the specified ‘ord_date’ column from purchase table according to the format specifier %W %D %M %Y and returns those orders which had been placed after 2007.
Sample table: purchase
Code:
SELECT invoice_no,ord_date,
DATE_FORMAT(ord_date,'%W %D %M %Y')
FROM purchase
WHERE DATE_FORMAT(ord_date,' %Y')>2007;
Output:
mysql> SELECT invoice_no,ord_date, DATE_FORMAT(ord_date,'%W %D %M %Y') -> FROM purchase -> WHERE DATE_FORMAT(ord_date,' %Y')>2007; +------------+------------+-------------------------------------+ | invoice_no | ord_date | DATE_FORMAT(ord_date,'%W %D %M %Y') | +------------+------------+-------------------------------------+ | INV0001 | 2008-07-06 | Sunday 6th July 2008 | | INV0002 | 2008-08-09 | Saturday 9th August 2008 | | INV0003 | 2008-09-15 | Monday 15th September 2008 | +------------+------------+-------------------------------------+ 3 rows in set (0.01 sec)
Video Presentation:
Click here to see the MySQL Date and time functions.
Previous: DATE_ADD()
Next: DATE_SUB()
- Weekly Trends
- Python Interview Questions and Answers: Comprehensive Guide
- Scala Exercises, Practice, Solution
- Kotlin Exercises practice with solution
- MongoDB Exercises, Practice, Solution
- SQL Exercises, Practice, Solution - JOINS
- Java Basic Programming Exercises
- SQL Subqueries
- Adventureworks Database Exercises
- C# Sharp Basic Exercises
- SQL COUNT() with distinct
- JavaScript String Exercises
- JavaScript HTML Form Validation
- Java Collection Exercises
- SQL COUNT() function
- SQL Inner Join