In MySQL, the data type used to store dates is called DATE. The DATE data type allows you to store dates in the format ‘YYYY-MM-DD’, where YYYY represents the year, MM represents the month, and DD represents the day.
Working with Dates in MySQL
The DATE data type is commonly used when working with dates in MySQL. It provides a convenient way to store and manipulate date values within your database.
When creating a table in MySQL, you can specify a column as a DATE data type using the following syntax:
CREATE TABLE table_name (
date_column DATE
);
You can also use the DATE data type in combination with other data types to create more complex date and time representations. For example, you can use the DATETIME data type to store both date and time values:
CREATE TABLE table_name (
datetime_column DATETIME
);
Storing Date Values
To insert date values into a DATE column, you need to follow the ‘YYYY-MM-DD’ format. Here’s an example:
INSERT INTO table_name (date_column) VALUES ('2021-01-01');
You can also use functions like NOW() or CURDATE() to insert the current date into a DATE column:
INSERT INTO table_name (date_column) VALUES (CURDATE());
Retrieving Date Values
To retrieve date values from a DATE column, you can use various functions provided by MySQL. For instance, you can use DATE_FORMAT() function to format the date according to your desired output:
SELECT DATE_FORMAT(date_column, '%M %e, %Y') AS formatted_date FROM table_name;
This will return the date in the format ‘Month Day, Year’.
Conclusion
The DATE data type in MySQL provides a simple and efficient way to store and work with dates. By understanding how to use the DATE data type, you can effectively manage and manipulate date values within your MySQL database.