This tutorial explains how to convert a number to string in Oracle using TO_CHAR(number) function. The following are the Oracle TO_CHAR(number) examples with syntax and format specifier details.
Syntax
TO_CHAR(number, format, [nlsparam])
Format Specifiers
| Format Model | Description |
|---|---|
| CC, SCC | Century (S prefixes BC dates with a minus sign) |
| YYYY, SYYYY | Year (S prefixes BC dates with a minus sign) |
| IYYY | Year based on ISO standard |
| YYY, YY, Y | Last three, two or one digits of the year |
| IYY, IY, I | Last three, two or one digits of the ISO year |
| Y,YYY | (Four Y's with comma) put a comma in the year (1,995) |
| YEAR, SYEAR | Year spelled out (S prefixes BC dates with a minus sign) |
| RR | Last two digits of year in another century (allows for year 2000) |
| BC, AD | BC or AD indicator |
| B.C., A.D. | BC or AD indicators with periods |
| Q | Numeric quarter of the year (1-4 with Jan-Mar=1) |
| MM | 2 number month (Jan = 01) |
| RM | Roman numeral month |
| MONTH | Name of month spelled out (upper case - month is upper case) |
| MON | abbreviated name of month (upper case - month is upper case) |
| WW | Week of the year (1-53) |
| IW | Week of the year (1-52, 1-53) based on ISO standard |
| W | Week of month (1-5) |
| DDD | day of year (1-366) (Don't forget leap years) |
| DD | day of month (1-31) |
| D | day of week (1-7) |
| DAY | Name of day (upper case, day is upper case) |
| DY | Abbreviated name of day |
| J | Julian day (Number of days since January 1, 4712 BC) |
| AM,PM | Meridian indicator |
| A.M., P.M. | Meridian indicator with periods. |
| HH, HH12 | Hour of day (0-12) |
| HH24 | Use 24 hour clock for hours (1-24) |
| MI | Minute (0-59) |
| SS | Second (0-60) |
| SSSSS | (five S's) seconds past midnight. (0-86399) |
| None | Date must be in the format 'DD-MON-YY'; |
Oracle TO_CHAR(number) Examples
1. The following example is to convert a number to leading zeros if less than 10 digits.
SELECT TO_CHAR (12345, '0000000000') FROM DUAL;
Output
0000012345
2. Leading a dollar sign example.
SELECT TO_CHAR (12345, '$99999') FROM DUAL;
Output
$12345
3. Convert to Decimal character example.
SELECT TO_CHAR (12345, '99999D99') FROM DUAL;
Output
12345.00
4. Convert to ISO Currency example.
SELECT TO_CHAR (12345, 'C99999') FROM DUAL;
Output
USD12345
5. Convert to Comma example.
SELECT TO_CHAR (12345, '99,999') FROM DUAL;
Output
12,345
6. Convert to Roman example.
SELECT TO_CHAR (12, 'RN') FROM DUAL;
Output
XII