TO_CHAR (datetime)

TO_CHAR(datetime) converts a datetime or interval expression to a text string in a specified format.

Return Value

VARCHAR2

Syntax

TO_CHAR({ datetime | interval } [, fmt [, 'nlsparam' ] ])

Arguments

datetime is a datetime expression to be converted to text.

interval is an interval expression to be converted to text.

fmt is a datetime model format specifying the format of char. The default date format is determined implicitly by the NLS_TERRITORY initialization parameter or can be set explicitly by the NLS_DATE_FORMAT parameter. For data type formats, refer to the Oracle Database SQL Language Reference.

nlsparam specifies the language in which month and day names and abbreviations are returned. This argument can have this form:

'NLS_DATE_LANGUAGE = language' 

By default, the return value is in the session date language.

Examples

TO_CHAR(SYSDATE) returns a value such as 11-APR-08.

TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'Day: MONTH DD, YYYY') returns a value such as Friday : APRIL 11, 2008.

TO_CHAR(SYSDATE, 'Day: MONTH DD, YYYY', 'NLS_DATE_LANGUAGE = Spanish') returns a value such as Viernes : ABRIL 11, 2008.