How to Format Dates in ParadeDB with TO_CHAR

How do I format dates in ParadeDB using PostgreSQL's TO_CHAR function?

Convert date/time values to readable text in ParadeDB using PostgreSQL’s TO_CHAR function.

Welcome to the Galaxy, Guardian!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Description

What does TO_CHAR do in ParadeDB?

TO_CHAR converts a date, timestamp, or interval into a text string using a user-defined format. ParadeDB inherits this feature from PostgreSQL, so all standard patterns work.

How do I write the syntax for TO_CHAR?

Call TO_CHAR(date_value, 'format_pattern').The first argument is any date-type expression; the second is a format mask made of pattern letters like YYYY, MM, DD, HH24, and text literals.

Which format patterns are most useful?

YYYY four-digit year, MM two-digit month, DD two-digit day, HH24 24-hour, MI minutes. Combine with separators such as '-' or '/'. Escape literal text in double quotes.

How can I format order dates for reporting?

Use TO_CHAR(order_date, 'YYYY-MM-DD') for ISO style, or TO_CHAR(order_date, 'Mon DD, YYYY') for marketing emails.ParadeDB returns a TEXT column you can alias as formatted_date.

Can I localize the output?

Yes. Set lc_time or use the TM modifier: TO_CHAR(order_date, 'TMMonth') respects the current locale, producing “März” instead of “March” when lc_time = 'de_DE'.

Example: monthly sales label

SELECT TO_CHAR(order_date, 'YYYY-MM') AS month_label, SUM(total_amount) FROM Orders GROUP BY 1 ORDER BY 1;

Best practices for date formatting

Store dates in native types; only format at the presentation layer.Keep one consistent human format for reports to avoid confusion. Index raw dates for performance.

Common mistakes and fixes

Using lowercase format patterns: 'yyyy' returns literal text; use uppercase 'YYYY'.
Forgetting leading zeros: Use FM prefix to suppress zeros or keep pattern as is to pad.

Want multiple time zones?

First convert with AT TIME ZONE, then apply TO_CHAR: TO_CHAR(order_date AT TIME ZONE 'UTC', 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI TZ').

Why How to Format Dates in ParadeDB with TO_CHAR is important

How to Format Dates in ParadeDB with TO_CHAR Example Usage


-- Show customer order dates as "March 2024" in ParadeDB
SELECT c.name,
       TO_CHAR(o.order_date, 'FMMonth YYYY') AS order_month,
       o.total_amount
FROM Customers c
JOIN Orders o ON o.customer_id = c.id
ORDER BY o.order_date DESC;

How to Format Dates in ParadeDB with TO_CHAR Syntax


TO_CHAR(source_date_value :: date|timestamp|interval,
        'format_pattern')

-- Ecommerce examples
SELECT TO_CHAR(order_date, 'YYYY-MM-DD') AS iso_date
FROM Orders;

SELECT TO_CHAR(order_date, 'Dy, Mon DD YYYY') AS email_friendly
FROM Orders;

SELECT TO_CHAR(order_date AT TIME ZONE 'America/Los_Angeles',
               'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI') AS pacific_time
FROM Orders;

Common Mistakes

Mixing lowercase pattern letters. Using 'yyyy-mm-dd' returns literal text. Correct by writing 'YYYY-MM-DD'.
Formatting in queries used for joins. Join on raw date columns, format only in the SELECT list or client code to avoid broken indexes and slow plans.