With the function TO_CHAR, Oracle converts a number or date to a string.

The to_char Oracle syntax is:

to_char( value, [ format_mask ], [ nls_language ] )

• value can either be a number or date that will be converted to a string.
• format_mask is optional. This is the format that will be used to convert value to a string.
• nls_language is optional. This is the nls language used to convert value to a string.

So, to convert a date variable to a text (string), you would use the to_char Oracle function.

TO_CHAR Oracle within SQL 🔗

select to_char(sysdate, ‘yyyy/mm/dd’) as to_char_oracle from dual; /* to_char Oracle SQL returns: ‘2011/07/17’ */

select to_char(sysdate, ‘Month DD, YYYY’) as to_char_oracle from dual; /* to_char Oracle SQL returns: ‘October 17, 2011’ */

select to_char(sysdate, ‘FMMonth DD, YYYY’) as to_char_oracle from dual; /* to_char Oracle SQL returns: ‘October 17, 2011’ */

select to_char(sysdate, ‘FMMON DDth, YYYY’) as to_char_oracle from dual; /* to_char Oracle SQL returns: ‘OCT 17TH, 2011’ */

select to_char(sysdate, ‘FMMon ddth, YYYY’) as to_char_oracle from dual; /* to_char Oracle SQL returns: ‘Oct 17th, 2011’ */

TO_CHAR Oracle within PL/SQL 🔗

(Please turn serveroutput on)

SET serveroutput ON

Here, within PL/SQL loop with the function to_char oracle returns the number i converted to a text string:

BEGIN

FOR i IN REVERSE 1 .. 3 LOOP

DBMS_OUTPUT.put_line(TO_CHAR(i) ||’ - converted by to_char Oracle function’);

END LOOP;

END;

Result:

3 - converted by to_char Oracle function

2 - converted by to_char Oracle function

1 - converted by to_char Oracle function

Update on TO CHAR Oracle Function 🔗

The information provided about the TO CHAR Oracle function in the year 2011 is still valid for the years 2021 to 2024. This function is used to convert a number or date to a string in Oracle. The syntax for TO CHAR Oracle is as follows:

TO_CHAR(value, format_mask, nls_language)

The value parameter can be either a number or a date that will be converted to a string. The format_mask parameter is optional and specifies the format to be used for the conversion. The nls_language parameter is also optional and defines the language used for the conversion.

To convert a date variable to a text string using TO CHAR Oracle in SQL, you can use the following syntax:

SELECT TO_CHAR(sysdate, 'YYYY-MM-DD') AS TO_CHAR_ORACLE
FROM dual;

In the year 2024, the above SQL query will return the current date in the format YYYY-MM-DD. The TO CHAR Oracle function can also be used in PL/SQL, as shown below:

SET serveroutput ON;
BEGIN
    FOR i IN REVERSE 1..10 LOOP
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE(TO_CHAR(i) || ' converted by TO CHAR Oracle function');
    END LOOP;
END;

In the year 2024, the PL/SQL code snippet above will output the numbers from 10 to 1 converted to text strings using the TO CHAR Oracle function.

Overall, the TO CHAR Oracle function remains a useful tool for converting numbers or dates to strings in Oracle SQL and PL/SQL, and the information provided in 2011 is still applicable in the years 2021 to 2024.

How to Use the TOCHAR Oracle Function 🔗

If you’re working with Oracle databases, you may need to convert numbers or dates into strings for various purposes. The TOCHAR function in Oracle allows you to do just that. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to use the TOCHAR Oracle function effectively.

Syntax of the TOCHAR Oracle Function 🔗

The syntax for the TOCHAR Oracle function is as follows:

TOCHAR(value, formatmask, nlslanguage)

• value: This can be a number or a date that you want to convert to a string.
• formatmask: (Optional) Specifies the format to be used for the conversion.
• nlslanguage: (Optional) Defines the language used for the conversion.

Using TOCHAR Oracle in SQL 🔗

In SQL, you can use the TOCHAR function to convert dates to text strings. Here are some examples:

SELECT TOCHAR(sysdate, 'YYYYMMDD') AS TOCHARORACLE FROM dual;

This SQL query will return the current date in the format YYYYMMDD.

Using TOCHAR Oracle in PLSQL 🔗

You can also utilize the TOCHAR function in PLSQL. Here’s an example within a PLSQL loop:

SET serveroutput ON;
BEGIN
    FOR i IN REVERSE 1..3 LOOP
        DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('TOCHAR ' || i || ' converted by TOCHAR Oracle function.');
    END LOOP;
END;

This PLSQL code snippet will output numbers from 1 to 3 converted to text strings using the TOCHAR Oracle function.

Fazit 2025: The Continued Relevance of TOCHAR Oracle Function 🔗

As of 2025, the TOCHAR Oracle function remains a valuable tool for converting numbers or dates to strings in Oracle SQL and PLSQL. The information provided in this guide is still relevant and useful for developers working with Oracle databases. Whether you’re converting dates for reporting purposes or manipulating data in your applications, the TOCHAR Oracle function is a reliable option to have in your programming arsenal.