> This page location: Date Functions > TO_DATE > Full Neon documentation index: https://neon.com/docs/llms.txt # PostgreSQL TO_DATE() Function **Summary**: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the PostgreSQL `TO_DATE()` function to convert a string to a date. ## Introduction to the PostgreSQL TO_DATE() function The `TO_DATE()` function converts a [string](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-char-varchar-text) literal to a [date](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-date) value. Here's the basic syntax of the `TO_DATE()` function: ```sql TO_DATE(text,format); ``` The `TO_DATE()` function accepts two string arguments. - `text`: is an input string that you want to convert to a date. - `format`: specifies the format of the input string. The `TO_DATE()` function returns a `DATE` value. See the following example: ```sql SELECT TO_DATE('20170103','YYYYMMDD'); ``` Output: ```text TO_DATE ------------ 2017-01-03 ``` In this example, the string `20170103` is converted into a date based on the input format `YYYYMMDD`. - `YYYY`: year in four digits format. - `MM`: month in two digits format. - `DD`: day in two digits format. As a result, the function returns `January 3rd 2017`. The following table illustrates the template patterns for formatting date values: | **Pattern** | **Description** | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Y,YYY | year in 4 digits with comma | | YYYY | year in 4 digits | | YYY | last 2 digits of the year | | YY | The last digit of the year | | Y | The last 3 digits of ISO 8601 week-numbering year | | IYYY | ISO 8601 week-numbering year (4 or more digits) | | IYY | The last 2 digits of ISO 8601 week-numbering year | | IY | The last digit of ISO 8601 week-numbering year | | I | Abbreviated capitalized month name e.g., Jan, Feb,  etc. | | BC, bc, AD or ad | Era indicator without periods | | B.C., b.c., A.D. ora.d. | Era indicator with periods | | MONTH | English month name in uppercase | | Month | Full capitalized English month name | | month | Full lowercase English month name | | MON | Abbreviated uppercase month name e.g., JAN, FEB, etc. | | Mon | Week number of the year (1-53) (the first week starts on the first day of the year) | | mon | Abbreviated lowercase month name e.g., Jan, Feb, etc. | | MM | month number from 01 to 12 | | DAY | Full uppercase day name | | Day | Full capitalized day name | | day | Full lowercase day name | | DY | Abbreviated uppercase day name | | Dy | Abbreviated capitalized day name | | dy | Abbreviated lowercase day name | | DDD | Day of year (001-366) | | IDDD | Day of ISO 8601 week-numbering year (001-371; day 1 of the year is Monday of the first ISO week) | | DD | Day of month (01-31) | | D | Day of the week, Sunday (1) to Saturday (7) | | ID | ISO 8601 day of the week, Monday (1) to Sunday (7) | | W | Week of month (1-5) (the first week starts on the first day of the month) | | WW | Century e.g., 21, 22, etc. | | IW | Week number of ISO 8601 week-numbering year (01-53; the first Thursday of the year is in week 1) | | CC | Century e.g, 21, 22, etc. | | J | Julian Day (integer days since November 24, 4714 BC at midnight UTC) | | RM | Month in uppercase Roman numerals (I-XII; I=January) | | rm | Month in lowercase Roman numerals (i-xii; i=January) | ## PostgreSQL TO_DATE function examples The following statement converts the string `10 Feb 2017` into a date value: ```sql SELECT TO_DATE('10 Feb 2017', 'DD Mon YYYY'); ``` The output is: ```text TO_DATE ------------ 2017-02-10 (1 row) ``` Suppose you want to convert the string `2017 Feb 10` to a date value, you can apply the pattern `YYYY Mon DD` as follows: ```sql SELECT TO_DATE('2017 Feb 20','YYYY Mon DD'); ``` The function returns the following output: ```text TO_DATE ------------ 2017-02-20 (1 row) ``` ## PostgreSQL TO_DATE() function gotchas If you pass an invalid date string, the `TO_DATE()` function will try to convert it to a valid date and issue an error if it cannot. For example: ```sql SELECT TO_DATE('2017/02/30', 'YYYY/MM/DD'); ``` PostgreSQL issued the following error: ``` ERROR: date/time field value out of range: "2017/02/30" LINE 1: SELECT '2017/02/30'::date; ``` ## Summary - Use the PostgreSQL `TO_DATE()` function to convert a string literal to a date value. --- ## Related docs (Date Functions) - [AGE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-age) - [AT TIME ZONE Operator](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-at-time-zone) - [CLOCK_TIMESTAMP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-clock_timestamp) - [CURRENT_DATE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-current_date) - [CURRENT_TIME](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-current_time) - [CURRENT_TIMESTAMP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-current_timestamp) - [DATE_PART](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-date_part) - [DATE_TRUNC](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-date_trunc) - [EXTRACT](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-extract) - [ISFINITE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-isfinite) - [JUSTIFY_DAYS](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-justify_days) - [JUSTIFY_HOURS](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-justify_hours) - [JUSTIFY_INTERVAL](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-justify_interval) - [LOCALTIME](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-localtime) - [LOCALTIMESTAMP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-localtimestamp) - [MAKE_DATE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-make_date) - [MAKE_INTERVAL](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-make_interval) - [MAKE_TIME](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-make_time) - [NOW](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-now) - [PG_SLEEP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-pg_sleep) - [STATEMENT_TIMESTAMP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-statement_timestamp) - [TIMEOFDAY](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-timeofday) - [TO_TIMESTAMP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-to_timestamp)