Date

DATE

AlaSQL supports two different date types:

• Date - JavaScript date type (object)
• DATE - SQL date type (string like 'YYYYMMDD') See the example:

alasql('CREATE TABLE orders (orderdate Date)');
alasql('INSERT INTO orders VALUES ("2014-01-01")');
var res = alasql('SELECT * FROM orders');
// It gives JavaScript dates
var res = alasql('SELECT orderdate->getUTCFullYear() FROM orders');
// This gives an array of years
// Here - getUTCFullYear() - is a function of object Date.prototype

If you want to use good old SQL date just use DATE, instead of Date:

alasql('CREATE TABLE sample (sqldate DATE, jsdate Date)');

See a jsFiddle example

Please Note

When alasql.options.dateAsString (default: true) is set to false, JavaScript dates are always used. JavaScript dates are easier to work with than string dates, especially when the time component is of relevance in the data (for example when sorting or using BETWEEN). The following date functions are affected by this configuration property: NOW(), DATE(), GETDATE(), CURRENT_TIMESTAMP(), CURDATE() and CURRENTDATE().

AlaSQL runs locally and in JavaScript so when dealing with Date (JS date objects) it will use the current locale when working with dates - so make sure always to use UTC time to avoid surprises. Example: for the Date 2014-01-01, the .getFullYear() (missing UTC) will give you 2013 if you are currently physically located west of London.

Relevant date functions

DATE(dateString)

Returns a JavaScript date object based on the given date string. SELECT DATE("20081012") or SELECT DATE("2008.10.12") or in ISO string format SELECT DATE("1995-12-17T03:24:00").

NOW(), GETDATE(), CURRENT_TIMESTAMP/CURRENT_TIMESTAMP()

Aliases for returning the current date (including time) as either a JavaScript Date object or a date string (with time component) (depending on alasql.options.dateAsString).

CURDATE/CURDATE(), CURRENTDATE/CURRENTDATE()

Aliases for returning the current date (no time component). Depending on alasql.options.dateAsString, either a JavaScript Date object is returned or a date string (no time component). In case a JavaScript date is returned, the time will be set to 00:00:00.

SECOND(date) / MINUTE(date) / HOUR(date) / DAY(date) / MONTH(date) / YEAR(date) / DAYOFWEEK(date)

Returns the number of for the given JavaScript date object.

DATEDIFF(unit, date1, date2)

Returns the difference between two given JS date objects, in the unit configured, as an Integer. The units can be the following (and how these are interpreted by AlaSQL):

• year: 365 days
• quarter: 91.25 days
• month: 30 days
• week: 7 days
• day: 1 day
• hour: 1 hour
• minute: 1 minute
• second: 1 second
• millisecond: 1 millisecond
• microsecond: 0.001 millisecond

Example: SELECT DATEDIFF(day, DATE("1995-12-17T03:24:00"), NOW())

DATEADD(unit, number, date)

Adds a given number of to the given date.

Example: SELECT DATEADD(day, -2, NOW()) would subtract 2 days from today (including time).

DATE_ADD(date, numberInMs) / ADDDATE(date, numberInMs)

Does the same as DATEADD, except that no unit can be passed. The value must be in milliseconds.

Example: SELECT DATE_ADD(NOW(), 24 * 3600 * 1000) would add one day to today.

DATE_SUB(date, numberInMs) / SUBDATE(date, numberInMs)

Does the same as DATE_ADD, but subtracts instead of adds.

Example: SELECT DATE_SUB(NOW(), 24 * 3600 * 1000) would subtract one day from today.

INTERVAL

Returns the number of milliseconds for a given interval.

Example: INTERVAL 9 HOUR would return 32400000 (9 * 60 * 60 * 1000) This can be used for example in DATE_ADD. For example, DATE_ADD(NOW(), INTERVAL 9 HOUR) would add 9 hours to the current date time.

BETWEEN

Returns if a date is between date1 and date2

Example: WHERE activation_date BETWEEN DATE("2024-01-01T00:00:00") AND DATE("2024-12-31T23:59:59")