A to_char function is useful while displaying oracle date value to a required string format.This is particularly useful for displaying the dates in the most suitable format required.Few examples of using this method with different formats given below.

See the below example for to_char function usage.

<pre>-- Created on 11/19/2008 by Globinch PLSQLTIPS
declare
-- Local variables here
test_Date DATE;

begin
  -- Initialize the date
   test_Date := to_date('12/12/2008','DD/MM/YYYY');
   --To display day and all other details
   dbms_output.put_line('The date :' || to_char(test_Date,'Dy DD-MM-YYYY HH24:MI:SS'));
   --To display month in text
   dbms_output.put_line('The date :' ||to_char(test_Date,'Dy DD-MON-YYYY HH24:MI:SS'));
   --To display 12HR format and milliseconds
  dbms_output.put_line('The date :' || to_char(sysdate,'YYYY/MM/DD HH12:MI:SS:ssss'));
  --To display AM/PM format
  dbms_output.put_line('The date :' || to_char(sysdate,'YYYY/MM/DD HH12:MI:SS:ssss AM '));

end;
/
The date :Fri 12-12-2008 00:00:00
The date :Fri 12-DEC-2008 00:00:00
The date :2008/11/19 03:29:15:1515

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