SQL CONVERT Function

This example converts values to other data types.

SELECT CONVERT(INT, 28117.2632) AS Int, 
       CONVERT(CHAR, GETDATE(), 108) AS Char,
       CONVERT(NVARCHAR(12), GETDATE(), 107) AS NVarchar 

Note: Formatting is specified with an optional style parameter (the third parameter).

Syntax of the CONVERT function.

CONVERT (data_type(length), expression, style)  

These are the Date and Time styles for CONVERT.

Next are the float and real styles for CONVERT.

Finally, are the money and smallmoney styles for CONVERT.

SELECT FirstName, LastName, OrderNumber,
       CONVERT(NVARCHAR, OrderDate, 100) AS OrderDate 
  FROM [Order] O
  JOIN Customer C ON C.Id = O.CustomerId

FirstName	LastName	OrderNumber	OrderDate
Paul	Henriot	542378	Jul 4 2012 12:00AM
Karin	Josephs	542379	Jul 5 2012 12:00AM
Mario	Pontes	542380	Jul 8 2012 12:00AM
Mary	Saveley	542381	Jul 8 2012 12:00AM
Pascale	Cartrain	542382	Jul 9 2012 12:00AM

SELECT 'On ' + CONVERT(NVARCHAR, OrderDate, 107) + 
       ' ' +  FirstName + ' ' + LastName + 
       ' placed an order for $' +  
       CONVERT(NVARCHAR, TotalAmount) AS Text
  FROM [Order] O
  JOIN Customer C ON C.Id = O.CustomerId

Text
On Jul 04, 2012 Paul Henriot placed an order for $440.00
On Jul 05, 2012 Karin Josephs placed an order for $1863.40
On Jul 08, 2012 Mario Pontes placed an order for $1813.00
On Jul 08, 2012 Mary Saveley placed an order for $670.80
On Jul 09, 2012 Pascale Cartrain placed an order for $3730.00
On Jul 10, 2012 Mario Pontes placed an order for $1444.80

Both functions are commonly used in data conversions, but there are differences.

• Our Sql CAST Function Reference
• Our Sql FORMAT Function Reference
• Our Sql System Functions Reference