TO_CHAR

The TO_CHAR function converts a DATE, TIMESTAMP or numeric input value to a VARCHAR2.

If you are using TimesTen type mode, for information on the TO_CHAR function, refer to documentation from previous releases of TimesTen.

SQL syntax

TO_CHAR ( Expression1[, Expression2 [, Expression3]])

Parameters

TO_CHAR has the parameters:

Parameter	'Description
`Expression1`	A DATE, TIMESTAMP or numeric expression.
`Expression2`	The format string. If omitted, TimesTen uses the default date format (YYYY-MM-DD).
`Expression3`	A CHAR or VARCHAR2 expression to specify the NLS parameter which is currently ignored.

Description

TO_CHAR supports different datetime format models depending on the data type specified for the expression. For information on the datetime format model used for TO_CHAR of data type DATE or TIMESTAMP, see "Datetime format models". For information on the datetime format model used for TO_CHAR of data type TT_DATE or TT_TIMESTAMP, see "Format model for ROUND and TRUNC date functions".
TO_CHAR supports different number format models depending on the numeric data type specified for the expression. For information on the number format model used for TO_CHAR of data type NUMBER or ORA_FLOAT, see "Number format models". For information on the number format model used for TO_CHAR of all other numeric data types, see "Format model for ROUND and TRUNC date functions".

Examples

SELECT FIRST 5 first_name, 
               TO_CHAR (hire_date, 'MONTH DD, YYYY'),
               TO_CHAR (salary, '$999999.99')
  FROM employees;
< Steven, JUNE      17, 1987,   $24000.00 >
< Neena, SEPTEMBER 21, 1989,   $17000.00 >
< Lex, JANUARY   13, 1993,   $17000.00 >
< Alexander, JANUARY   03, 1990,    $9000.00 >
< Bruce, MAY       21, 1991,    $6000.00 >
5 rows found.

SELECT TO_CHAR(-0.12,'$B99.9999') FROM dual;
<   -$.1200 >
1 row found.

SELECT TO_CHAR(-12, 'B99999PR') FROM dual;
<     12  >
1 row found.

SELECT TO_CHAR(-12,'FM99999') FROM dual;
< -12 >
1 row found.

SELECT TO_CHAR(1234.1,'9,999.999') FROM dual;
<  1,234.100 >
1 row found.