FORMAT - Convert Datetime to String - SQL Server to MySQL Migration

In SQL Server FORMAT function converts a datetime value to string using the specified format. In MySQL you can use DATE_FORMAT function.

Note that the FORMAT and DATE_FORMAT format strings are different.

SQL Server:

  -- Convert the current date and time to string (year-month-day)
  SELECT FORMAT(GETDATE(), 'yyyyMMdd');
  # 20230215

MySQL:

  -- Convert the current date and time to string (year-month-day)
  SELECT DATE_FORMAT(NOW(), '%Y%m%d');
  # 20230215

When you convert SQL Server FORMAT function to DATE_FORMAT function in MySQL, you have to map the format specifiers:

Typical conversion examples:

For more information, see SQL Server to MySQL Migration.