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Oracle/PLSQL: Cast Function

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

Syntax

The syntax for the cast function is:

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

Note

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

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.