SQL FORMAT() Function
The FORMAT() Function
The FORMAT() function is used to format how a field is to be displayed.
SQL FORMAT() Syntax
SELECT FORMAT(column_name,format) FROM table_name;
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| column_name | Required. The field to be formatted. |
| format | Required. Specifies the format. |
Demo Database
In this tutorial we will use the well-known Northwind sample database.
Below is a selection from the "Products" table:
| ProductID | ProductName | SupplierID | CategoryID | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chais | 1 | 1 | 10 boxes x 20 bags | 18 |
| 2 | Chang | 1 | 1 | 24 - 12 oz bottles | 19 |
| 3 | Aniseed Syrup | 1 | 2 | 12 - 550 ml bottles | 10 |
| 4 | Chef Anton's Cajun Seasoning | 2 | 2 | 48 - 6 oz jars | 21.35 |
| 5 | Chef Anton's Gumbo Mix | 2 | 2 | 36 boxes | 25 |
SQL FORMAT() Example
The following SQL statement selects the product name, and price for today (formatted like YYYY-MM-DD) from the "Products" table:
Example
SELECT ProductName, Price, FORMAT(Now(),'YYYY-MM-DD') AS PerDate
FROM
Products;
Try it yourself »
