How to convert a datetime to string in T-SQL

Question

I\'m surprised not to be able to find this question here already.

I have a date time var and I want to convert it to a string so that I can append it to another stri

Answer 1

There are 3 different methods depending on what I is my requirement and which version I am using.

Here are the methods..

1) Using Convert

DECLARE @DateTime DATETIME = GETDATE();
--Using Convert
SELECT
    CONVERT(NVARCHAR, @DateTime,120) AS 'myDateTime'
    ,CONVERT(NVARCHAR(10), @DateTime, 120) AS 'myDate'
    ,RIGHT(CONVERT(NVARCHAR, @DateTime, 120),8) AS 'myTime'

2) Using Cast (SQL Server 2008 and beyond)

SELECT
    CAST(@DateTime AS DATETIME2) AS 'myDateTime'
    ,CAST(@DateTime AS DATETIME2(3)) AS 'myDateTimeWithPrecision'
    ,CAST(@DateTime AS DATE) AS 'myDate'
    ,CAST(@DateTime AS TIME) AS 'myTime'
    ,CAST(@DateTime AS TIME(3)) AS 'myTimeWithPrecision'

3) Using Fixed-length character data type

DECLARE @myDateTime NVARCHAR(20) = CONVERT(NVARCHAR, @DateTime, 120);
DECLARE @myDate NVARCHAR(10) = CONVERT(NVARCHAR, @DateTime, 120);

SELECT
    @myDateTime AS 'myDateTime'
    ,@myDate AS 'myDate'

Answer 2

You can use the convert statement in Microsoft SQL Server to convert a date to a string. An example of the syntax used would be:

SELECT convert(varchar(20), getdate(), 120)

The above would return the current date and time in a string with the format of YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS in 24 hour clock.

You can change the number at the end of the statement to one of many which will change the returned strings format. A list of these codes can be found on the MSDN in the CAST and CONVERT reference section.

Answer 3

There are many different ways to convert a datetime to a string. Here is one way:

SELECT convert(varchar(25), getdate(), 121)  – yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss.mmm

See Demo

Here is a website that has a list of all of the conversions:

How to Format datetime & date in SQL Server

Answer 4

Try below :

DECLARE @myDateTime DATETIME
SET @myDateTime = '2013-02-02'

-- Convert to string now
SELECT LEFT(CONVERT(VARCHAR, @myDateTime, 120), 10)

Answer 5

Check CAST and CONVERT syntax of t-sql:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187928.aspx

Answer 6

The following query will get the current datetime and convert into string. with the following format
yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss(24h)

SELECT convert(varchar(25), getdate(), 120) 

• SQLFiddle Demo
• SQL Server Date Formats