# **STR_TO_DATE()**

## **Function Description**

The `STR_TO_DATE()` function converts a string to a date or date-time type according to the specified date or time display format, synonymous with [`TO_DATE()`](to-date.md).

A format string can contain literal characters and format specifiers starting with %. The literal characters and format specifiers in format must match str and expressions are supported. If str cannot be parsed by format or any of the parameters are NULL, the `STR_TO_DATE` function returns NULL.

For format specifiers that can be used, see the [`DATE_FORMAT()`](date-format.md) function description.

## **Function Syntax**

```text
> STR_TO_DATE(str,format)
```

## **Parameter definition**

| Parameters | Description |
| ---- | ---- |
| str | String to format as date (input string) |
| format | format string to use |

## **Example**

```text
mysql> SELECT STR_TO_DATE('2022-01-06 10:20:30','%Y-%m-%d %H:%i:%s') as result;
+--------------------------+
| result |
+--------------------------+
| 2022-01-06 10:20:30 |
+--------------------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> SELECT STR_TO_DATE('09:30:17','%h:%i:%s');
+---------------------------------------+
| str_to_date(09:30:17, %h:%i:%s) |
+---------------------------------------+
| 09:30:17 |
+---------------------------------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

-- format parameter supports expressions
mysql> SELECT str_to_date('2008-01-01',replace('yyyy-MM-dd','yyyy-MM-dd','%Y-%m-%d')) as result;
+----------------+
| result |
+----------------+
| 2008-01-01 |
+----------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

--STR_TO_DATE function ignores the extra characters at the end of the input string str when parsing the input string str according to the format string format
mysql> SELECT STR_TO_DATE('25,5,2022 extra characters','%d,%m,%Y');
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| str_to_date(25,5,2022 extra characters, %d,%m,%Y) |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 2022-05-25 |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> SELECT STR_TO_DATE('2022','%Y');
+---------------------------+
| str_to_date(2022, %Y) |
+---------------------------+
| NULL |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
```