Introduction:

Working with dates is a common task in database management, and MySQL provides powerful functions to handle date conversions. Converting strings to dates is crucial when dealing with date data stored as strings or importing data from external sources. In this blog, we will explore multiple methods to convert strings to dates in MySQL.

Method 1: Using STR_TO_DATE() Function

MySQL provides the STR_TO_DATE() function to convert a string to a date format based on a specified format string. The function takes two arguments: the input string and the format string.

SELECT STR_TO_DATE('2023-08-01', '%Y-%m-%d') AS converted_date;

Output: 

2023-08-01

In this example, the format string '%Y-%m-%d' is used to indicate that the input string should be interpreted as a date in the format "YYYY-MM-DD." The function successfully converts the string '2023-08-01' to a date data type.

Method 2: Using DATE_FORMAT() Function

The DATE_FORMAT() function allows us to convert a date or a string into a specific format. We can combine this with the STR_TO_DATE() function to achieve the desired conversion.

SELECT DATE_FORMAT(STR_TO_DATE('08-01-2023', '%m-%d-%Y'), '%Y-%m-%d') AS converted_date;

Output:

2023-08-01

Here, we first use STR_TO_DATE() to convert the string '08-01-2023' to a date, assuming the format is 'MM-DD-YYYY.' Then, DATE_FORMAT() is used to convert the date back to the desired format 'YYYY-MM-DD.'

Method 3: Using DATE() Function with Implicit Conversion

MySQL can perform implicit conversions between date formats and strings using the DATE() function.

SELECT DATE('2023-08-01') AS converted_date;

Output: 

2023-08-01

The DATE() function implicitly converts the string '2023-08-01' to a date data type, extracting the date part and discarding the time portion (if any).

Method 4: Using CAST() or CONVERT() Function

MySQL allows explicit casting of strings to dates using either the CAST() or CONVERT() functions.

SELECT CAST('2023-08-01' AS DATE) AS converted_date;
-- or
SELECT CONVERT('2023-08-01', DATE) AS converted_date;

Output:

2023-08-01

Both CAST() and CONVERT() functions convert the input string '2023-08-01' to a date data type.

Conclusion:

In this blog, we explored multiple methods to convert strings to dates in MySQL. The STR_TO_DATE(), DATE_FORMAT(), DATE(), CAST(), and CONVERT() functions are powerful tools for handling date conversions efficiently. Depending on the requirements and the format of the input strings, you can choose the most suitable method.