How to convert from string to datetime?

Execute the following T-SQL scripts in Microsoft SQL Server Manangement Studio Q
uery Editor to demonstrate T-SQL convert and cast functions in transforming stri
ng date, string time & string datetime data to datetime data type. Other datetim
e manipulation examples are presented as well.
-- Microsoft SQL Server string to date conversion - datetime string format sql s
erver
-- MSSQL string to datetime conversion - convert char to date sql server
-- Subtract 100 from style number (format) for yy instead yyyy (or ccyy with cen
tury)
SELECT convert(datetime, 'Oct 23 2012 11:01AM', 100) -- mon dd yyyy hh:mmAM (or
PM)
SELECT convert(datetime, 'Oct 23 2012 11:01AM') -- 2012-10-23 11:01:00.000

-- Without century (yy) string date conversion - convert string to datetime

SELECT convert(datetime, 'Oct 23 12 11:01AM', 0) -- mon dd yy hh:mmAM (or PM
)
SELECT convert(datetime, 'Oct 23 12 11:01AM') -- 2012-10-23 11:01:00.000

-- Convert string to datetime sql - convert string to date sql - sql dates forma
t
-- T-SQL convert string to datetime - SQL Server convert string to date
SELECT convert(datetime, '10/23/2016', 101) -- mm/dd/yyyy
SELECT convert(datetime, '2016.10.23', 102) -- yyyy.mm.dd
SELECT convert(datetime, '23/10/2016', 103) -- dd/mm/yyyy
SELECT convert(datetime, '23.10.2016', 104) -- dd.mm.yyyy
SELECT convert(datetime, '23-10-2016', 105) -- dd-mm-yyyy
-- mon types are nondeterministic conversions, dependent on language setting
SELECT convert(datetime, '23 OCT 2016', 106) -- dd mon yyyy
SELECT convert(datetime, 'Oct 23, 2016', 107) -- mon dd, yyyy
-- 2016-10-23 00:00:00.000
SELECT convert(datetime, '20:10:44', 108) -- hh:mm:ss
-- 1900-01-01 20:10:44.000
-- mon dd yyyy hh:mm:ss:mmmAM (or PM) - sql time format
SELECT convert(datetime, 'Oct 23 2016 11:02:44:013AM', 109)
-- 2016-10-23 11:02:44.013
SELECT convert(datetime, '10-23-2016', 110) -- mm-dd-yyyy
SELECT convert(datetime, '2016/10/23', 111) -- yyyy/mm/dd
SELECT convert(datetime, '20161023', 112) -- yyyymmdd
-- 2016-10-23 00:00:00.000
SELECT convert(datetime, '23 Oct 2016 11:02:07:577', 113) -- dd mon yyyy hh:mm:s
s:mmm
-- 2016-10-23 11:02:07.577
SELECT convert(datetime, '20:10:25:300', 114) -- hh:mm:ss:mmm(24h)
-- 1900-01-01 20:10:25.300
SELECT convert(datetime, '2016-10-23 20:44:11', 120) -- yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss
(24h)
-- 2016-10-23 20:44:11.000
SELECT convert(datetime, '2016-10-23 20:44:11.500', 121) -- yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss
.mmm
-- 2016-10-23 20:44:11.500
SELECT convert(datetime, '2008-10-23T18:52:47.513', 126) -- yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss
.mmm
-- 2008-10-23 18:52:47.513

-- Convert DDMMYYYY format to datetime

SELECT convert(datetime, STUFF(STUFF('31012016',3,0,'-'),6,0,'-'), 105)
-- 2016-01-31 00:00:00.000
-- SQL string to datetime conversion without century - some exceptions
SELECT convert(datetime, '10/23/16', 1) -- mm/dd/yy
SELECT convert(datetime, '16.10.23', 2) -- yy.mm.dd
SELECT convert(datetime, '23/10/16', 3) -- dd/mm/yy
SELECT convert(datetime, '23.10.16', 4) -- dd.mm.yy
SELECT convert(datetime, '23-10-16', 5) -- dd-mm-yy
SELECT convert(datetime, '23 OCT 16', 6) -- dd mon yy
SELECT convert(datetime, 'Oct 23, 16', 7) -- mon dd, yy
SELECT convert(datetime, '20:10:44', 8) -- hh:mm:ss
SELECT convert(datetime, 'Oct 23 16 11:02:44:013AM', 9)
SELECT convert(datetime, '10-23-16', 10) -- mm-dd-yy
SELECT convert(datetime, '16/10/23', 11) -- yy/mm/dd
SELECT convert(datetime, '161023', 12) -- yymmdd
SELECT convert(datetime, '23 Oct 16 11:02:07:577', 13) -- dd mon yy hh:mm
:ss:mmm
SELECT convert(datetime, '20:10:25:300', 14) -- hh:mm:ss:mmm(24
h)
SELECT convert(datetime, '2016-10-23 20:44:11',20) -- yyyy-mm-dd hh:m
m:ss(24h)
SELECT convert(datetime, '2016-10-23 20:44:11.500', 21) -- yyyy-mm-dd hh:m
m:ss.mmm
------------

-- SQL Datetime Data Type: Combine date & time string into datetime - sql hh mm
ss
-- String to datetime - mssql datetime - sql convert date - sql concatenate stri
ng
DECLARE @DateTimeValue varchar(32), @DateValue char(8), @TimeValue char(6)

SELECT @DateValue = '20120718',

@TimeValue = '211920'

SELECT @DateTimeValue =
convert(varchar, convert(datetime, @DateValue), 111)
+ ' ' + substring(@TimeValue, 1, 2)
+ ':' + substring(@TimeValue, 3, 2)
+ ':' + substring(@TimeValue, 5, 2)

SELECT
DateInput = @DateValue,
TimeInput = @TimeValue,
 DateTimeOutput = @DateTimeValue;
/*
DateInput TimeInput DateTimeOutput
20120718 211920 2012/07/18 21:19:20
*/

-- SQL convert seconds to HH:MM:SS - sql times format - sql hh mm

DECLARE @Seconds INT
SET @Seconds = 20000
SELECT HH = @Seconds / 3600,
MM = (@Seconds%3600) / 60,
SS = (@Seconds%60)
GO
/*
HH MM SS
5 33 20
*/
------------
-- SQL Server 2008 convert datetime to date - sql yyyy mm dd
SELECT TOP (3)
OrderDate = CONVERT(date, OrderDate),
Today = CONVERT(date, getdate())
FROM AdventureWorks2008.Sales.SalesOrderHeader
ORDER BY newid();
/* OrderDate Today
2003-07-09 2012-06-18
2003-09-26 2012-06-18
2004-02-15 2012-06-18 */
------------
-- SQL date yyyy mm dd - sqlserver yyyy mm dd - date format yyyymmdd
SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(10), GETDATE(), 111) AS [YYYY/MM/DD]
/* YYYY/MM/DD
2015/07/11 */
SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(10), GETDATE(), 112) AS [YYYYMMDD]
/* YYYYMMDD
20150711 */
SELECT REPLACE(CONVERT(VARCHAR(10), GETDATE(), 111),'/',' ') AS [YYYY MM DD]
/* YYYY MM DD
2015 07 11 */
------------

-- SQL convert date string to datetime - time set to 00:00:00.000 or 12:00AM

PRINT CONVERT(datetime,'07-10-2012',110) -- Jul 10 2012 12:00AM
PRINT CONVERT(datetime,'2012/07/10',111) -- Jul 10 2012 12:00AM
PRINT CONVERT(datetime,'20120710', 112) -- Jul 10 2012 12:00AM
------------

-- String to date conversion - sql date yyyy mm dd - sql date formatting

-- SQL Server cast string to date - sql convert date to datetime
SELECT [Date] = CAST (@DateValue AS datetime)
GO
-- 2012-07-18 00:00:00.000

-- SQL convert string date to different style - sql date string formatting
SELECT CONVERT(varchar, CONVERT(datetime, '20140508'), 100)
-- May 8 2014 12:00AM
-- SQL Server convert date to integer
DECLARE @Date datetime
SET @Date = getdate()
SELECT DateAsInteger = CAST (CONVERT(varchar,@Date,112) as INT)
-- Result: 20161225

-- SQL Server convert integer to datetime

DECLARE @iDate int
SET @iDate = 20151225
SELECT IntegerToDatetime = CAST(convert(varchar,@iDate) as datetime)
GO
-- 2015-12-25 00:00:00.000

-- Alternates: date-only datetime values

-- SQL Server floor date - sql convert datetime
SELECT [DATE-ONLY]=CONVERT(DATETIME, FLOOR(CONVERT(FLOAT, GETDATE())))
SELECT [DATE-ONLY]=CONVERT(DATETIME, FLOOR(CONVERT(MONEY, GETDATE())))
-- SQL Server cast string to datetime
-- SQL Server datetime to string convert
SELECT [DATE-ONLY]=CAST(CONVERT(varchar, GETDATE(), 101) AS DATETIME)
-- SQL Server dateadd function - T-SQL datediff function
-- SQL strip time from date - MSSQL strip time from datetime
SELECT getdate() ,DATEADD(dd, DATEDIFF(dd, 0, getdate()), 0)
-- Results: 2016-01-23 05:35:52.793 2016-01-23 00:00:00.000
-- String date - 10 bytes of storage
SELECT [STRING DATE]=CONVERT(varchar, GETDATE(), 110)
SELECT [STRING DATE]=CONVERT(varchar, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, 110)
-- Same results: 01-02-2012

-- SQL Server cast datetime as string - sql datetime formatting

SELECT stringDateTime=CAST (getdate() as varchar)
--Result: Dec 29 2012 3:47AM
----------
-- SQL date range between
----------
-- SQL date range select - date range search
-- T-SQL date range query - sql date ranges
-- Count Sales Orders for 2003 OCT-NOV
DECLARE @StartDate DATETIME, @EndDate DATETIME
SET @StartDate = convert(DATETIME,'10/01/2003',101)
SET @EndDate = convert(DATETIME,'11/30/2003',101)

SELECT @StartDate, @EndDate

-- 2003-10-01 00:00:00.000 2003-11-30 00:00:00.000
SELECT DATEADD(DAY,1,@EndDate),
DATEADD(ms,-3,DATEADD(DAY,1,@EndDate))
-- 2003-12-01 00:00:00.000 2003-11-30 23:59:59.997

-- MSSQL date range select using >= and <

SELECT [Sales Orders for 2003 OCT-NOV] = COUNT(* )
FROM Sales.SalesOrderHeader
WHERE OrderDate >= @StartDate
AND OrderDate < DATEADD(DAY,1,@EndDate)
/*
Sales Orders for 2003 OCT-NOV
3668
*/

-- Equivalent date range query using BETWEEN comparison

-- It requires a bit of trick programming
SELECT [Sales Orders for 2003 OCT-NOV] = COUNT(* )
FROM Sales.SalesOrderHeader
WHERE OrderDate BETWEEN @StartDate AND DATEADD(ms,-3,DATEADD(DAY,1,@EndDate))
-- 3668
GO
USE AdventureWorks;
-- SQL between string dates
SELECT POs=COUNT(*) FROM Purchasing.PurchaseOrderHeader
WHERE OrderDate BETWEEN '20040201' AND '20040210'
-- Result: 108

-- BETWEEN is equivalent to >=...AND....<=

SELECT POs=COUNT(*) FROM Purchasing.PurchaseOrderHeader
WHERE OrderDate
BETWEEN '2004-02-01 00:00:00.000' AND '2004-02-10 00:00:00.000'
/*
Orders with OrderDates
'2004-02-10 00:00:01.000' - 1 second after midnight (12:00AM)
'2004-02-10 00:01:00.000' - 1 minute after midnight
'2004-02-10 01:00:00.000' - 1 hour after midnight

are not included in the two queries above.

*/
-- To include the entire day of 2004-02-10 use:
SELECT POs=COUNT(*) FROM Purchasing.PurchaseOrderHeader
WHERE OrderDate >= '20040201' AND OrderDate < '20040211'
----------

-- Date validation function ISDATE - returns 1 or 0

-- SQL datetime functions
------------
DECLARE @StringDate varchar(32)
SET @StringDate = '2011-03-15 18:50'
IF EXISTS( SELECT * WHERE ISDATE(@StringDate) = 1)
PRINT 'VALID DATE: ' + @StringDate
ELSE
PRINT 'INVALID DATE: ' + @StringDate
GO
-- Result: VALID DATE: 2011-03-15 18:50

DECLARE @StringDate varchar(32)

SET @StringDate = '20112-03-15 18:50'
IF EXISTS( SELECT * WHERE ISDATE(@StringDate) = 1)
PRINT 'VALID DATE: ' + @StringDate
ELSE
PRINT 'INVALID DATE: ' + @StringDate
GO
-- Result: INVALID DATE: 20112-03-15 18:50
-- Selected named date styles
------------
DECLARE @DateTimeValue varchar(32)

-- US-Style
SELECT @DateTimeValue = '10/23/2016'
SELECT StringDate=@DateTimeValue,
[US-Style] = CONVERT(datetime, @DatetimeValue)

SELECT @DateTimeValue = '10/23/2016 23:01:05'

SELECT StringDate = @DateTimeValue,
[US-Style] = CONVERT(datetime, @DatetimeValue)

-- UK-Style, British/French
-- convert string to datetime sql
-- sql convert string to datetime
SELECT @DateTimeValue = '23/10/16 23:01:05'
SELECT StringDate = @DateTimeValue,
[UK-Style] = CONVERT(datetime, @DatetimeValue, 3)

SELECT @DateTimeValue = '23/10/2016 04:01 PM'

SELECT StringDate = @DateTimeValue,
[UK-Style] = CONVERT(datetime, @DatetimeValue, 103)

-- German-Style
SELECT @DateTimeValue = '23.10.16 23:01:05'
SELECT StringDate = @DateTimeValue,
[German-Style] = CONVERT(datetime, @DatetimeValue, 4)

SELECT @DateTimeValue = '23.10.2016 04:01 PM'

SELECT StringDate = @DateTimeValue,
[German-Style] = CONVERT(datetime, @DatetimeValue, 104)
------------

-- Double conversion to US-Style 107 with century: Oct 23, 2016

SET @DateTimeValue='10/23/16'
SELECT StringDate=@DateTimeValue,
[US-Style] = CONVERT(varchar, CONVERT(datetime, @DateTimeValue),107)

-- Using DATEFORMAT - UK-Style

-- SQL dateformat
SET @DateTimeValue='23/10/16'
SET DATEFORMAT dmy
SELECT StringDate=@DateTimeValue,
[Date Time] = CONVERT(datetime, @DatetimeValue)
-- Using DATEFORMAT - US-Style
SET DATEFORMAT mdy

-- DATEPART datetime function example

-- SQL Server datetime functions
SELECT * FROM Northwind.dbo.Orders
WHERE
DATEPART(YEAR, OrderDate) = '1996' AND
DATEPART(MONTH,OrderDate) = '07' AND
DATEPART(DAY, OrderDate) = '10'

-- Alternate syntax for DATEPART example

SELECT * FROM Northwind.dbo.Orders
WHERE
YEAR(OrderDate) = '1996' AND
MONTH(OrderDate) = '07' AND
DAY(OrderDate) = '10'
GO

------------
-- Extract string date from text with PATINDEX pattern matching
-- Apply sql server string to date conversion
------------
USE tempdb;
go
CREATE TABLE InsiderTransaction (
InsiderTransactionID int identity primary key,
TradeDate datetime,
TradeMsg varchar(256),
 ModifiedDate datetime default (getdate())
)
go

-- Populate table with dummy data

INSERT InsiderTransaction (TradeMsg) VALUES(
'INSIDER TRAN QABC Hammer, Bruce D. CSO 09-02-08 Buy 2,000 6.10')
INSERT InsiderTransaction (TradeMsg) VALUES(
'INSIDER TRAN QABC Schmidt, Steven CFO 08-25-08 Buy 2,500 6.70')
INSERT InsiderTransaction (TradeMsg) VALUES(
'INSIDER TRAN QABC Hammer, Bruce D. CSO 08-20-08 Buy 3,000 8.59')
INSERT InsiderTransaction (TradeMsg) VALUES(
'INSIDER TRAN QABC Walters, Jeff CTO 08-15-08 Sell 5,648 8.49')
INSERT InsiderTransaction (TradeMsg) VALUES(
'INSIDER TRAN QABC Walters, Jeff CTO 08-15-08 Option Execute 5,648 2.15')
INSERT InsiderTransaction (TradeMsg) VALUES(
'INSIDER TRAN QABC Hammer, Bruce D. CSO 07-31-08 Buy 5,000 8.05')
INSERT InsiderTransaction (TradeMsg) VALUES(
'INSIDER TRAN QABC Lennot, Mark B. Director 08-31-07 Buy 1,500 9.97')
INSERT InsiderTransaction (TradeMsg) VALUES(
'INSIDER TRAN QABC O''Neal, Linda COO 08-01-08 Sell 5,000 6.50')
go

-- Extract dates from stock trade message text

-- Pattern match for MM-DD-YY using the PATINDEX string function
SELECT TradeDate=substring(TradeMsg,
patindex('%[01][0-9]-[0123][0-9]-[0-9][0-9]%', TradeMsg),8)
FROM InsiderTransaction
WHERE patindex('%[01][0-9]-[0123][0-9]-[0-9][0-9]%', TradeMsg) > 0
/* Partial results
TradeDate
09-02-08
08-25-08
08-20-08
*/

-- Update table with extracted date

-- Convert string date to datetime
UPDATE InsiderTransaction
SET TradeDate = convert(datetime, substring(TradeMsg,
patindex('%[01][0-9]-[0123][0-9]-[0-9][0-9]%', TradeMsg),8))
WHERE patindex('%[01][0-9]-[0123][0-9]-[0-9][0-9]%', TradeMsg) > 0

SELECT * FROM InsiderTransaction ORDER BY TradeDate desc

/* Partial results

InsiderTransactionID TradeDate TradeMsg ModifiedDate

1 2008-09-02 00:00:00.000 INSIDER TRAN QABC Hammer, Bruce D. CSO 09-02-08 Bu
y 2,000 6.10 2008-12-22 20:25:19.263
2 2008-08-25 00:00:00.000 INSIDER TRAN QABC Schmidt, Steven CFO 08-25-08 Buy
2,500 6.70 2008-12-22 20:25:19.263
3 2008-08-20 00:00:00.000 INSIDER TRAN QABC Hammer, Bruce D. CSO 08-20-08
Buy 3,000 8.59 2008-12-22 20:25:19.263
*/

-- Cleanup task
DROP TABLE InsiderTransaction
go
/************

VALID DATE RANGES FOR DATETIME DATA TYPES

SMALLDATETIME (4 bytes) date range:
January 1, 1900 through June 6, 2079

DATETIME (8 bytes) date range:

January 1, 1753 through December 31, 9999

-- The statement below will give a date range error

SELECT CONVERT(smalldatetime, '2110-01-01')
/*
Msg 242, Level 16, State 3, Line 1
The conversion of a varchar data type to a smalldatetime data type
resulted in an out-of-range value.
*/
************/
------------
-- SQL CONVERT DATE/DATETIME script applying table variable
------------
-- SQL Server convert date
-- Datetime column is converted into date only string column
DECLARE @sqlConvertDate TABLE ( DatetimeColumn datetime,
DateColumn char(10));
INSERT @sqlConvertDate (DatetimeColumn) SELECT GETDATE()

UPDATE @sqlConvertDate
SET DateColumn = CONVERT(char(10), DatetimeColumn, 111)
SELECT * FROM @sqlConvertDate

-- SQL Server convert datetime

-- The string date column is converted into datetime column
UPDATE @sqlConvertDate
SET DatetimeColumn = CONVERT(Datetime, DateColumn, 111)
SELECT * FROM @sqlConvertDate

-- Equivalent formulation
-- SQL Server cast datetime
UPDATE @sqlConvertDate
SET DatetimeColumn = CAST(DateColumn AS datetime)
SELECT * FROM @sqlConvertDate
GO
/* First results

DatetimeColumn DateColumn
2012-12-25 15:54:10.363 2012/12/25 */

/* Second results:

DatetimeColumn DateColumn
2012-12-25 00:00:00.000 2012/12/25 */
------------
-- SQL date sequence generation with DATEADD & table variable
-- SQL Server cast datetime to string
-- SQL Server insert default values method
DECLARE @Sequence table (Sequence int identity(1,1))
DECLARE @i int; SET @i = 0
WHILE ( @i < 500)
BEGIN
INSERT @Sequence DEFAULT VALUES
SET @i = @i + 1
END
SELECT DateSequence = CAST(DATEADD(day, Sequence,getdate()) AS varchar)
FROM @Sequence
GO
/* Partial results:

DateSequence
Dec 31 2008 3:02AM
Jan 1 2009 3:02AM
Jan 2 2009 3:02AM
Jan 3 2009 3:02AM
Jan 4 2009 3:02AM
Jan 5 2009 3:02AM
Jan 6 2009 3:02AM
Jan 7 2009 3:02AM
*/
------------
------------
-- SQL Last Week calculations
------------
-- SQL last Friday
-- Implied string to datetime conversions in DATEADD & DATEDIFF
DECLARE @BaseFriday CHAR(8), @LastFriday datetime, @LastMonday datetime
SET @BaseFriday = '19000105'
SELECT @LastFriday = DATEADD(dd,
(DATEDIFF (dd, @BaseFriday, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP) / 7) * 7,
@BaseFriday)
SELECT [Last Friday] = @LastFriday
-- Result: 2008-12-26 00:00:00.000

-- SQL last Monday (last week's Monday)

SELECT @LastMonday=DATEADD(dd,
(DATEDIFF (dd, @BaseFriday, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP) / 7) * 7 - 4
,
@BaseFriday)
SELECT [Last Monday]= @LastMonday
-- Result: 2008-12-22 00:00:00.000

-- SQL last week - SUN - SAT

SELECT [Last Week] = CONVERT(varchar,dateadd(day, -1, @LastMonday), 101)+
' - ' +
CONVERT(varchar,dateadd(day, 1, @LastFriday), 101)
-- Result: 12/21/2008 - 12/27/2008
------------
------------
-- SQL Last Date calculations
------------
-- Last day of prior month
-- Last day of previous month
SELECT convert( varchar, dateadd(dd,-1,DATEADD(mm, DATEDIFF(mm,0,getdate() ), 0
)),101)
-- 01/31/2019

-- Last day of current month

SELECT convert( varchar, dateadd(dd,-1,DATEADD(mm, DATEDIFF(mm,0,getdate())+1, 0
)),101)
-- 02/28/2019

-- Last day of prior quarter

-- Last day of previous quarter
SELECT convert( varchar, dateadd(dd,-1,DATEADD(qq, DATEDIFF(qq,0,getdate() ), 0
)),101)
-- 12/31/2018
-- Last day of current quarter
-- Last day of current quarter
SELECT convert( varchar, dateadd(dd,-1,DATEADD(qq, DATEDIFF(qq,0,getdate())+1, 0
)),101)
-- 03/31/2019

-- Last day of prior year

-- Last day of previous year
SELECT convert( varchar, dateadd(dd,-1,DATEADD(yy, DATEDIFF(yy,0,getdate() ), 0
)),101)
-- 12/31/2018

-- Last day of current year

SELECT convert( varchar, dateadd(dd,-1,DATEADD(yy, DATEDIFF(yy,0,getdate())+1, 0
)),101)
-- 12/31/2019
GO
------------
------------
-- SQL Server dateformat and language setting
------------
-- T-SQL set language
-- String to date conversion
SET LANGUAGE us_english
SELECT CAST('2018-03-15' AS datetime)
-- 2018-03-15 00:00:00.000

SET LANGUAGE british

SELECT CAST('2018-03-15' AS datetime)
/* Msg 242, Level 16, State 3, Line 2
The conversion of a varchar data type to a datetime data type resulted in
an out-of-range value.
*/
SELECT CAST('2018-15-03' AS datetime)
-- 2018-03-15 00:00:00.000

SET LANGUAGE us_english

-- SQL dateformat with language dependency

SELECT name, alias, dateformat
FROM sys.syslanguages
WHERE langid in (0,1,2,4,5,6,7,10,11,13,23,31)
GO
/*
name alias dateformat
us_english English mdy
Deutsch German dmy
Français French dmy
Dansk Danish dmy
Español Spanish dmy
Italiano Italian dmy
Nederlands Dutch dmy
Suomi Finnish dmy
Svenska Swedish ymd
magyar Hungarian ymd
British British English dmy
Arabic Arabic dmy
*/
------------