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Oracle/PLSQL: Cast Function


In Oracle/PLSQL, the cast function converts one datatype to another.

The syntax for the cast function is:

cast ( { expr | ( subquery ) | MULTISET ( subquery ) } AS type_name )


The following casts are allowed:

TO FROM
char, varchar2 number datetime / interval raw rowid, urowid nchar, nvarchar2
char, varchar2 X X X X X
number X X
datetime / interval X X
raw X X
rowid, urowid X X
nchar, nvarchar2 X X X X X


Applies To:

  • Oracle 9i, Oracle 10g, Oracle 11g

For example:

select cast( '22-Aug-2003' AS varchar2(30) )
from dual;

This would convert the date (ie: 22-Aug-2003) into a varchar2(30) value.