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:

Syntax Diagram:

MySQL Version: 8.0

Table of format specifiers

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.

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:

All Date and Time Functions :

Click here to see the MySQL Date and time functions.

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