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str_to_date

Description​

Converts a string into a DATETIME value according to the specified format. If the conversion fails, NULL is returned.

The format must be consistent with that described in date_format.

This function is inverse to date_format.

Syntax​

DATETIME STR_TO_DATE(VARCHAR str, VARCHAR format)

Parameters​

str: the time expression you want to convert. It must be of the VARCHAR type.

format: the format used to return the value. For the supported format, see date_format.

Return value​

Returns a value of the DATETIME type. If format specifies a date, a DATE value is returned.

NULL is returned if str or format is NULL.

Examples​

Example 1: Convert the input into a DATETIME value.

MySQL > select str_to_date('2014-12-21 12:34:56', '%Y-%m-%d %H:%i:%s');
+---------------------------------------------------------+
| str_to_date('2014-12-21 12:34:56', '%Y-%m-%d %H:%i:%s') |
+---------------------------------------------------------+
| 2014-12-21 12:34:56                                     |
+---------------------------------------------------------+

Example 2: Convert the input into a DATE value.

MySQL > select str_to_date('2014-12-21 12:34:56', '%Y-%m-%d');
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| str_to_date('2014-12-21 12:34:56', '%Y-%m-%d')               |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| 2014-12-21                                                   |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+

Example 3: Convert the input "200442 Monday" into a DATE value.

MySQL > select str_to_date('200442 Monday', '%X%V %W');
+-----------------------------------------+
| str_to_date('200442 Monday', '%X%V %W') |
+-----------------------------------------+
| 2004-10-18                              |
+-----------------------------------------+

keyword​

STR_TO_DATE,STR,TO,DATE