Converts the given expression to character form and returns the result. The primary use for TO_CHAR is to format the output of date-time expressions through the format_string argument.

Syntax

TO_CHAR ( expresion[ , format_string] )

Parameters

expression

Converts to character form. It must evaluate to a value of the date or time data type to use the format_string.

format_string

Specifies the format of the output. SQL ignores the format string if the expression argument does not evaluate to a date or time.

Notes

  • The first argument to the function can be of any type.
  • The second argument, if specified, must be of type CHARACTER.
  • The result is of type CHARACTER.
  • The format argument can be used only when the type of the first argument is DATE.
  • If any of the argument expressions evaluates to NULL, the result is NULL.

Compatibility

Progress extension