conversion functions

How to Convert from One Date Format to Another in SQL Server using CONVERT()

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Sometimes when working with databases and other programming environments, you get a date value but it’s in the wrong format/data type. For example, if a date has been generated with an inbuilt date function, it might include both the date and the time, right down to the last nanosecond. And all you want is the day, month, and year, say like this: 2018-01-01.

If this happens while you’re using SQL Server, you can use the CONVERT() function to convert it to another data type. When you do this, the data type will determine the format it appears as.

This article provides examples of using the CONVERT() function in SQL Server to convert a date value to another (date) data type.

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CONVERT() vs TRY_CONVERT in SQL Server: What’s the Difference?

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You might have noticed that T-SQL includes both a CONVERT() function and a TRY_CONVERT() function that you can use in SQL Server to perform conversions between data types. But if you’re scratching your head over what the difference is between these two functions, read on!

The difference between CONVERT() and TRY_CONVERT() is in the way they handle data types that can’t be converted. One throws an error, while the other returns null. The following examples demonstrate this.

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CAST() vs TRY_CAST() in SQL Server: What’s the Difference?

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When converting between data types in SQL Server, you will run into various functions that seemingly do the same thing. However, there are usually differences between these functions that might not be apparent at first glance. An example of this is the difference between the CAST() and TRY_CAST() functions.

This article demonstrates the difference between these functions when using SQL Server.

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