The TO_CHAR() function has beeen introduced in MariaDB 10.6.1.
conversion functions
How TO_BASE64() Works in MariaDB
In MariaDB, TO_BASE64() is a built-in string function that converts its string argument to its base-64 encoded form.
The TO_BASE64() function returns its result as a character string in the connection character set and collation (see how to get your connection’s collation).
How CONVERT() Works in MariaDB
In MariaDB, CONVERT() is a built in function that converts a value to another data type. It takes a value of one type and returns a value of the specified type.
You provide the value as an argument when you call the function, as well as the type that you’d like it converted to.
CONVERT() is similar to CAST().
How CAST() Works in MariaDB
In MariaDB, CAST() is a built in function that converts a value to another data type. It takes a value of one type and returns a value of the specified type.
You provide the value as an argument when you call the function, as well as the type that you’d like it converted to.
CAST() works similar to CONVERT().
How the to_number() Function Works in PostgreSQL
In PostgreSQL, you can use the to_number() function to convert a string to a numeric value.
More specifically, it converts the string representation of a number to a numeric value.
For example, if you have $1,234.50 as a string, you can use to_number() to convert that to an actual number that uses the numeric data type.
How to_timestamp() Works in PostgreSQL
According to the PostgreSQL documentation, there are two functions called to_timestamp():
- One converts the Unix epoch to a timestamp. The Unix epoch is the number of seconds since 1970-01-01 00:00:00+00.
- The other converts a string to a timestamp.
More specifically, each function converts the value to a timestamp with time zone value.
Although the Postgres documentation presents them as two separate to_timestamp() functions, I present them as if they’re one function that accepts either one argument, or two.
How to_date() Works in PostgreSQL
In PostgreSQL, you can use the to_date() function to convert a string to a date.
How to_char() Works in PostgreSQL
In Postgres, to_char() is a data type formatting function that converts its first argument to a string.
The format of the string is determined by the second argument.
The to_char() function can be used to do the following conversions:
- time stamp to string
- interval to string
- integer to string
- real/double precision to string
- numeric to string
Converting Between Date & Time Data Types in SQL Server (T-SQL Examples)
When you convert between date and time data types in SQL Server, you need to be mindful of how the new data type will handle the value you’re trying to assign to it.
In some cases you might lose part of the value, in other cases you might gain a bunch of zeros (increasing storage size in the process). You may also end up with a value that’s been rounded up.
The following articles contain examples of conversions between the different date and time data types, with a particular focus on the issues I just mentioned.
Convert ‘datetimeoffset’ to ‘time’ in SQL Server (T-SQL Examples)
If you have a datetimeoffset value, but you don’t need the date and time zone offset part, converting it to time will save you a lot of storage space (while removing unnecessary details from the value). This article contains examples of converting a datetimeoffset value to a time value in SQL Server.