How to return only the Date from a SQL Server DateTime datatype

How to Return Only the Date from a SQL Server DateTime Datatype

Are you tired of dealing with the time component when working with SQL Server DateTime datatype? Do you want to return only the date part without the time? Well, you're in luck! In this blog post, we'll address this common issue and provide you with easy solutions to get that perfect result. 📅🕒

The Challenge

Let's start with a scenario. Imagine you execute the following SQL query:

SELECT GETDATE()

And you get the following result:

2008-09-22 15:24:13.790

You want to extract only the date part without the time component, and your desired result is:

2008-09-22 00:00:00.000

How can you achieve this? Let's dive into the solutions!

Solution 1: CAST or CONVERT to DATE

One straightforward solution is to use the CAST or CONVERT function provided by SQL Server. These functions allow you to change the data type of a column or value. In our case, we can cast or convert the DateTime value to DATE.

Here's how you can do it:

SELECT CAST(GETDATE() AS DATE) AS DateOnly
-- or
SELECT CONVERT(DATE, GETDATE()) AS DateOnly

Executing any of the above queries will give you the desired outcome:

2008-09-22

By using either CAST or CONVERT function, we converted the DateTime value to a DATE data type, which effectively removed the time component.

Solution 2: Use the DATE Function

Another option is to make use of the DATE function, available in SQL Server 2012 and later versions. The DATE function simplifies the process of extracting only the date portion from a DateTime value.

Here's how you can utilize the DATE function:

SELECT DATEFROMPARTS(YEAR(GETDATE()), MONTH(GETDATE()), DAY(GETDATE())) AS DateOnly

Executing the above query will yield the same desired result:

2008-09-22

Using the DATEFROMPARTS function, we can extract the year, month, and day from the DateTime value obtained by calling GETDATE(). This allows us to form a new date with these extracted components, effectively removing the time component.

Time to Take Action! ✨

Now that you have learned how to return only the date without the time from a SQL Server DateTime datatype, it's time to put your newfound knowledge into action! Start implementing these solutions in your code, and save yourself the hassle of dealing with those pesky time components.

If you found this blog post helpful or have any questions, please let us know in the comments section below. We would love to hear your thoughts and experiences!

Happy coding! 💻🚀