to_char() — PostgreSQL date/time function

to_char(): format timestamp with time zone to text. PostgreSQL date/time functions — signature, volatility, version applicability and an illustrative example.

The Sev-1 Admin
The Sev-1 Admin  ·  2 min read

Summary

to_char is a PostgreSQL built-in function in the Date/Time Functions group. PostgreSQL’s system catalog (pg_proc) describes it as: “format timestamp with time zone to text”.

Signature

to_char has 8 documented overloaded forms:

to_char(timestamp with time zone, text) → text
to_char(numeric, text) → text
to_char(integer, text) → text
to_char(bigint, text) → text
to_char(real, text) → text
to_char(double precision, text) → text
to_char(interval, text) → text
to_char(timestamp, text) → text

Argument and return types are taken from the pg_proc catalog; internal type names are shown using their readable SQL spellings (for example int4 is shown as integer). (Derived from the catalog — see the linked reference for the canonical documentation.)

Classification

  • Category: Date/Time Functions
  • Kind: Function
  • Volatility: STABLE — Marked STABLE — within a single statement it returns a consistent result for the same arguments, but the result can change between statements.
  • Returns: text

Example

Illustrative form (replace placeholder values with your own data):

SELECT to_char(TIMESTAMPTZ '2024-01-15 10:30:00+00', 'abc');

The example above is illustrative and is meant to show calling syntax only; consult the linked PostgreSQL documentation for exact semantics, edge cases and accepted argument combinations.

Version applicability

to_char is present across the surveyed releases (PostgreSQL 15, 16, 17, 18, 19). On older major versions, behaviour may differ in detail — always check the documentation for the version you run.

Related & references

Reference: PostgreSQL documentation — Date/Time Functions.