As a developer, you may often come across the need to format datetime values according to specific requirements. Different geographic locations have different date format preferences, such as mm/dd/yy or dd/mm/yy. In SQL Server, there are several functions available to help you achieve this formatting.

The most commonly used functions for datetime formatting in SQL Server are CAST and CONVERT. These functions have been around for a long time and are widely used by developers. However, in the latest version of SQL Server 2012, a new function called FORMAT was introduced, which provides enhanced datetime formatting capabilities.

In this article, we will explore two different methods to display datetime values in specific formats: using the CONVERT function and the FORMAT function.

Using the CONVERT Function

The CONVERT function allows you to convert a datetime value to a specific format. Here is an example of how you can use the CONVERT function:

SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(30), GETDATE()) AS DateConvert;
SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(30), GETDATE(), 10) AS DateConvert;
SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(30), GETDATE(), 110) AS DateConvert;
SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(30), GETDATE(), 5) AS DateConvert;
SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(30), GETDATE(), 105) AS DateConvert;
SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(30), GETDATE(), 113) AS DateConvert;
SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(30), GETDATE(), 114) AS DateConvert;

Using the FORMAT Function

The FORMAT function, introduced in SQL Server 2012, provides a more flexible way to format datetime values. Here is an example of how you can use the FORMAT function:

SELECT FORMAT(GETDATE(), 'dd mon yyyy HH:m:ss:mmm', 'en-US') AS DateConvert;
SELECT FORMAT(GETDATE(), 'HH:m:ss:mmm', 'en-US') AS DateConvert;

The FORMAT function allows you to specify the desired format using a format string. You can also specify the culture to use for formatting, which is useful when dealing with different language preferences.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored two different methods to format datetime values in SQL Server: using the CONVERT function and the FORMAT function. Both functions provide ways to achieve the desired datetime formatting based on specific requirements. It is important to choose the appropriate function based on your needs and the version of SQL Server you are using.

Remember to check out related blog posts for more in-depth information on datetime formatting in SQL Server. There is a wealth of knowledge available to help you master this topic.

What other SQL Server topics would you like to see covered in future articles? Let us know in the comments!