Oracle Plsql Cast Function
Oracle / PLSQL: CAST Function
This Oracle tutorial explains how to use the Oracle/PLSQL CAST function with syntax and examples.
Description
The Oracle/PLSQL CAST function converts one datatype to another.
Syntax
The syntax for the CAST function in Oracle/PLSQL is:
CAST ( { expr | ( subquery ) | MULTISET ( subquery ) } AS type_name )Allowed Casts
When using the CAST function, 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 |
Returns
The CAST function returns the new datatype that you have converted to. If the resulting value is larger than the target type, an error is returned.
Applies To
The CAST function can be used in the following versions of Oracle/PLSQL:
- Oracle 12c, Oracle 11g, Oracle 10g, Oracle 9i
Example
Let's look at some Oracle CAST function examples and explore how to use the CAST function in Oracle/PLSQL.
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.
