Getting the YYYYMMDD format in SQL Server can be a useful task, especially when you need to work with dates in a specific format. In this article, I will show you how to achieve this using various methods in SQL Server.
Method 1: Using the CONVERT Function
The CONVERT function in SQL Server is a powerful tool for converting data types, including dates. To get the YYYYMMDD format, you can use the CONVERT function with the desired format code.
SELECT CONVERT(varchar(8), GETDATE(), 112) AS YYYYMMDD;
In this query, GETDATE() returns the current date and time. The CONVERT function then converts it to a varchar(8) data type using the format code 112, which represents the YYYYMMDD format. The result will be a string in the format ‘YYYYMMDD’.
Method 2: Using the FORMAT Function
Starting from SQL Server 2012, the FORMAT function was introduced, which provides more flexibility in formatting dates. To get the YYYYMMDD format, you can use the FORMAT function as follows:
SELECT FORMAT(GETDATE(), 'yyyyMMdd') AS YYYYMMDD;
In this query, GETDATE() returns the current date and time. The FORMAT function then formats it using the ‘yyyyMMdd’ format specifier, which represents the YYYYMMDD format. The result will be a string in the format ‘YYYYMMDD’.
Method 3: Using DATEPART Function
If you prefer to extract the individual parts of the date and concatenate them together, you can use the DATEPART function. Here’s an example:
SELECT CAST(DATEPART(YEAR, GETDATE()) AS varchar(4)) +
RIGHT('00' + CAST(DATEPART(MONTH, GETDATE()) AS varchar(2)), 2) +
RIGHT('00' + CAST(DATEPART(DAY, GETDATE()) AS varchar(2)), 2) AS YYYYMMDD;
In this query, the DATEPART function is used to extract the year, month, and day from the current date using GETDATE(). The CAST function is then used to convert the individual parts to varchar data types. Finally, the CONCAT function is used to concatenate them together in the YYYYMMDD format.
Conclusion
Obtaining the YYYYMMDD format in SQL Server is a task that can be accomplished using various methods. Whether you prefer to use the CONVERT function, the FORMAT function, or the DATEPART function, it’s important to choose the method that best suits your needs and preferences.
By applying the techniques described in this article, you can easily retrieve dates in the desired format and enhance your SQL Server queries and reports.