“`html

When crafting SQL queries, ensuring the logic is accurate behind your query is crucial, as clarity and structure significantly impact your handling of extensive queries. Well-structured queries are simpler to comprehend, troubleshoot, and manage. When your queries are neatly arranged, conveying your work to collaborators becomes much more straightforward.

In this article, we shall explore the methods for structuring SQL statements, the functions utilized for data formatting, and how to enhance the appearance of the data. So let’s get started!

Table of Contents:

• What is the FORMAT() Function in SQL?
• Significance of the FORMAT() function in SQL Server
• Date and Time Formatting in SQL
  • Why is Date and Time Formatting crucial in SQL?
  • SQL Date Format across Various Databases
  • Implementation of Date and Time Formatting in MySQL
• Formatting Output Data with SQL Functions
• Numeric and Currency Formatting in SQL
• Conclusion

What is the FORMAT() Function in SQL Server?

There are two key components of formatting in SQL: Firstly, clearly arrange the code, and secondly, format the output data generated by your queries. Both elements are equally vital for writing effective and professional SQL queries.

Formatting in SQL entails organizing the statements by indenting them appropriately, employing appropriate casing, and maintaining a logical structure. This makes your queries more comprehensible. Additionally, formatting the output can be advantageous for emphasizing how the data is presented. It assists in generating reports, exporting data, and preparing information for end-users. It displays results in a readable and organized manner, simplifying understanding.

Syntax for FORMAT() function:

The syntax for the FORMAT() function is illustrated below:

FORMAT(value, format, [culture])

where,

• value: Refers to the number or date intended for formatting.
• format: Designates the string that specifies the formatting pattern. (e.g., ‘N2‘ for two decimal places, ‘yyyy-MM-dd‘ for the date format)
• culture (optional): Generally a locale code applied for culture-specific formatting (e.g., ‘en-US‘, ‘de-DE‘).

Significance of the FORMAT() function in SQL Server

Below are several reasons underscoring the importance of formatting SQL code:

• Enhances readability: Code that is well-organized is simpler to understand, particularly when dealing with intricate or deeply nested logic. This facilitates a smoother workflow without confusion.

• Reduces Debugging Time: An organized codebase allows you to easily identify errors.

• Ensures Consistency: For a polished code appearance, it is essential to apply correct casing, spacing, and naming conventions within your SQL code. This also helps to mitigate errors.

• Increases Maintainability: Properly formatted SQL code enables you to make future alterations with minimal effort.

• Decreases Need for Comments: When your SQL code is straightforward, reliance on comments diminishes. The code’s structure inherently conveys the query’s logic.

Date and Time Formatting in SQL

Managing date and time values is a vital task when working with databases. A solid understanding of the formatting of date and time values in SQL is essential, as it aids in filtering records by date, formatting dates for reports, and presenting timestamps in a clear format.

SQL offers numerous built-in functions and formatting techniques for transforming raw dates and timestamps into user-friendly formats. This approach is referred to as SQL date format or datetime formatting.

Why is Date and Time Formatting crucial in SQL?

• It facilitates the presentation of results in an easily digestible format for users.

• Date and Time Formatting allows you to dissect a date into year, month, or day, making it simpler to organize your search data.

• It is beneficial for displaying dates in a format that aligns with your local customs or specific application requirements, such as 06/06/2025 instead of 2025-06-06.

• It can also be advantageous while compiling data for reports, dashboards, or when exporting to Excel/CSV.

SQL Date Format across Various Databases

Different databases provide various functions for date formatting. The most prevalent ones are summarized below in a table:

Database	Function Utilized
MySQL	DATE_FORMAT()
SQL “““html	Server	FORMAT() or CONVERT()
PostgreSQL	TO_CHAR()

Execution of Date and Time Formatting in SQL Server

Here are some illustrations concerning the execution of Date and Time formatting in SQL Server:

1. Fundamental Date Formatting using FORMAT()

Illustration:

-- Step 1: Create a table featuring a DATE column
CREATE TABLE orders (
    order_id INT,
    customer_name VARCHAR(50),
    order_date DATE
);

-- Step 2: Insert sample records
INSERT INTO orders (order_id, customer_name, order_date) VALUES
(1, 'C1', '2025-06-06'),
(2, 'C2', '2025-05-30');

-- Step 3: Format the order_date as DD-MM-YYYY utilizing FORMAT()
SELECT 
    order_id,
    customer_name,
    FORMAT(order_date, 'dd-MM-yyyy') AS formatted_date
FROM 
    orders;

Result:

Clarification:

The SQL query above retrieves details of orders, subsequently converting the order_date column into DD-MM-YYYY format, achieved with the DATE_FORMAT() function.

2. Including Time with DATETIME

Illustration:

-- Step 1: Create the table with a DATETIME column
CREATE TABLE logs (
    log_id INT,
    message VARCHAR(100),
    log_time DATETIME
);

-- Step 2: Insert sample records
INSERT INTO logs (log_id, message, log_time) VALUES
(1, 'User logged in', '2025-06-06 09:15:30'),
(2, 'User logged out', '2025-06-06 17:45:00');

-- Step 3: Format datetime as DD/MM/YYYY HH:MM AM/PM
SELECT 
    log_id,
    message,
    FORMAT(log_time, 'dd/MM/yyyy hh:mm tt') AS formatted_log_time
FROM 
    logs;

Result:

Clarification:

The query above captures the login and logout records, formatting the log_time column to exhibit the date and time in the DD/MM/YYYY HH:MM:SS AM/PM structure, utilizing the DATE_FORMAT() function.

3. Extracting Date Components in SQL

Occasionally, you may need to extract the year, month, or day from a complete date. The query to accomplish that is shown below:

Illustration:

-- Step 1: Create the 'orders' table featuring a DATE column
CREATE TABLE orders (
    order_id INT,
    customer_name VARCHAR(50),
    order_date DATE
);

-- Step 2: Insert sample records into the 'orders' table
INSERT INTO orders (order_id, customer_name, order_date) VALUES
(1, 'C1', '2025-06-06'),
(2, 'C2', '2025-05-30');

-- Step 3: Extract the year, month, and day from the order_date
SELECT 
    order_id,
    customer_name,
    YEAR(order_date) AS order_year,
    MONTH(order_date) AS order_month,
    DAY(order_date) AS order_day
FROM 
    orders;

Result:

Clarification:

This query retrieves order information and separates the order_date into distinct columns for year, month, and day by utilizing the date functions in SQL.

Output Data Formatting with SQL Functions

When fetching information from a database, unprocessed values may not always be displayed in an accessible format. It is essential to reorganize, format, or merge data using various SQL functions. This improves both the presentation of your code and its readability.

Below are several formatting techniques that can enhance your comprehension of the concept.

1. Formatting Dates using FORMAT()

You can modify dates to a more readable format such as DD-MM-YYYY or incorporate time as well.

Illustration:

-- Step 1: Create a table featuring a DATE column
CREATE TABLE orders (
    order_id INT,
    customer_name VARCHAR(50),
    order_date DATE
);

-- Step 2: Insert sample records
INSERT INTO orders (order_id, customer_name, order_date) VALUES
(1, 'C1', '2025-06-06'),
(2, 'C2', '2025-05-30');

-- Step 3: Format order_date as DD-MM-YYYY
SELECT 
    order_id,
    customer_name,
    FORMAT(order_date, 'dd-MM-yyyy') AS formatted_date
FROM 
    orders;

Result:

Clarification:

The previous query retrieves order details and formats the order_date column. This aids in displaying dates in the DD-MM-YYYY format utilizing the FORMAT() function.

2. Formatting Date and Time with DATETIME

You may also wish to present the time in AM/PM format when working with DATETIME. The example code is provided below.

Illustration:

-- Step 1: Create the logs table
CREATE TABLE logs (
    log_id INT,
    message VARCHAR(100),
    log_time DATETIME
);

-- Step 2: Insert data
INSERT INTO logs (log_id, message, log_time) VALUES
(1, 'User logged in', '2025-06-06 09:15:30'),
(2, 'User logged out', '2025-06-06 17:45:00');

-- Step 3: Format datetime as DD/MM/YYYY HH:MM:SS AM/PM
SELECT 
    log_id,
    message,
    FORMAT(log_time, 'dd/MM/yyyy hh:mm:ss tt') AS formatted_log_time
FROM 
    logs;

Result:

Clarification:

The…
“““html

The above query is employed to gather the login and logout specifics, subsequently formatting the log_time column to exhibit the date and time in the DD/MM/YYYY HH:MM:SS AM/PM structure. This is accomplished utilizing the DATE_FORMAT() function.

3. Concatenating Strings with CONCAT()

Example:

-- Step 1: Construct the table
CREATE TABLE employees (
    emp_id INT,
    first_name VARCHAR(50),
    last_name VARCHAR(50)
);

-- Step 2: Input data
INSERT INTO employees VALUES
(1, 'FN1', 'LN1'),
(2, 'FN2', 'LN2');

-- Step 3: Merge the first and last names
SELECT 
    emp_id,
    first_name + ' ' + last_name AS full_name
FROM 
    employees;

Output:

Explanation:

The SQL query above is utilized to establish a table named employees. Following this, sample data is inserted, retrieving the employee ID alongside their complete names. This can be done by merging the first and last names using the CONCAT function.

4. Number Formatting with the FORMAT() function

To represent numbers with commas, the FORMAT() function can be applied.

Example:

-- First, you need to create a sales table
CREATE TABLE sales (
    sale_id INT,
    amount DECIMAL(10,2)
);

-- Insert data
INSERT INTO sales VALUES
(1, 123456.789),
(2, 98765.4321);

-- Next, format amount with 2 decimals and a comma separator
SELECT 
    sale_id,
    FORMAT(amount, 2) AS formatted_amount

FROM 
    sales;

Output:

Explanation:

The SQL query above is meant for establishing a table named sales. Subsequently, data is inserted, and the sale ID is obtained with the amount formatted to 2 decimal figures, enhancing readability with commas.

5. Padding Numbers or Strings via RIGHT() and LEFT() combined with REPLICATE()

Example:

-- Step 1: Construct the table containing sample strings
CREATE TABLE sample_strings (
    id INT,
    val1 VARCHAR(10),
    val2 VARCHAR(10)
);

-- Step 2: Input data
INSERT INTO sample_strings (id, val1, val2) VALUES
(1, '123', 'AB'),
(2, '45', 'CD');

-- Step 3: Apply padding logic to mimic LPAD and RPAD
SELECT 
    id,
    -- Left pad val1 with zeros to achieve 5 characters
    RIGHT(REPLICATE('0', 5) + val1, 5) AS left_padded,

    -- Right pad val2 with asterisks to achieve 5 characters
    LEFT(val2 + REPLICATE('*', 5), 5) AS right_padded
FROM 
    sample_strings;

Output:

Explanation:

The SQL query above is designed to pad val1 on the left with zeros and val2 on the right with asterisks.

Numeric and Currency Formatting in SQL

When managing numeric data in SQL, it is crucial to format numbers for improved clarity and legibility. Thus, numeric and currency formatting holds significance in SQL. Below are some example scenarios for Numeric and Currency Formatting:

1. Utilizing the FORMAT() function

The FORMAT() function is utilized to format numbers as per your requirements.

Example:

-- Step 1: Create the sales table
CREATE TABLE sales (
    sale_id INT,
    amount DECIMAL(12, 4)
);

-- Step 2: Insert data
INSERT INTO sales VALUES
(1, 123456.789),
(2, 98765.4321);

-- Step 3: Format numbers with commas and 2 decimal positions
SELECT 
    sale_id,
    FORMAT(amount, 'N2') AS formatted_amount
FROM 
    sales;

Output:

Explanation:

The aforementioned query retrieves each sale’s ID, then formats the amount with commas and 2 decimal positions to enhance readability.

2. Formatting Currency Symbols

Even though SQL generally lacks built-in currency symbols in most databases, they can be appended manually.

Example:

-- Step 1: Initially, you need to create the 'sales' table
CREATE TABLE sales (
    sale_id INT,
    amount DECIMAL(12, 2)
);

-- Step 2: Following that, insert sample data into the 'sales' table
INSERT INTO sales (sale_id, amount) VALUES
(1, 123456.78),
(2, 98765.43),
(3, 5000.00);

-- Step 3: Finally, compose a query to display the amount as currency
SELECT 
    sale_id,
    CONCAT('$', FORMAT(amount, 2)) AS formatted_currency

FROM 
    sales;

Output:

Explanation:

This query stores sales data and employs both the CONCAT and FORMAT functions to format the amount as currency.

3. Managing Decimal Places

The ROUND() function can be utilized to round numbers instead of formatting them.

Example:

-- Step 1: Initially, create the 'sales' table
CREATE TABLE sales (
    sale_id INT,
    amount DECIMAL(10, 3)
);

-- Step 2: Following that, insert sample data into the 'sales' table
INSERT INTO sales (sale_id, amount) VALUES
(1, 123.456),
(2, 98.765),
(3, 45.123);

-- Step 3: Then, write a query to round the amount to 1 decimal position
SELECT 
    sale_id,
    ROUND(amount, 1) AS rounded_amount

FROM 
    sales;

Output: