SQL Server date format yyyymmdd

Formatting dates in SQL Server is a common requirement, especially when you want to display them in a specific style like yyyymmdd. This format is often used in reporting, data migration, or when integrating with systems that expect dates without separators. Thankfully, SQL Server provides multiple ways to achieve this.

The most widely used method is the CONVERT() function, which allows you to transform a datetime or date into different string formats. For yyyymmdd, you can use style code 112:

SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(8), GETDATE(), 112) AS FormattedDate;
-- Example output: 20250905

Another modern approach is using the FORMAT() function (available from SQL Server 2012 onward). This gives you more flexibility, though it can be slightly slower on large datasets:

SELECT FORMAT(GETDATE(), 'yyyyMMdd') AS FormattedDate;
-- Output: 20250905

Key Points to Remember:

• Use CONVERT() with style 112 for the most efficient and standard approach.
  
• Use FORMAT() when you need more customization, but be aware of potential performance overhead.
  
• Both methods return the result as a string, not as a date type.
  
• If you need to use the formatted date for comparisons, keep the original date type; use formatting only for display or export.
  

 In short, the optimum way in SQL Server is CONVERT(VARCHAR(8), GETDATE(), 112) since it’s efficient and widely supported, while FORMAT() offers flexibility for more complex formatting needs.