The SQL Convert() and TRY_Convert() both are SQL Conversions Functions and similar to CAST() or TRY_CAST() functions with an additional optional parameter ‘Style‘.
SQL CONVERT() function:
The SQL CONVERT() is a SQL Conversions Function, using this function you can convert an expression from one data type to another.
If conversion succeeds, function returns the expression in the desired data type, otherwise it returns the Error.
Syntax:
CONVERT(data_type(length), expression, style)
Description:
- Datatype: Specify the Datatype to which you want to convert the expression
- Length: It is an optional parameter that specifies the length of expression data type
- Expression: Specify any valid expression that you want to convert
- Style: It is an optional parameter of integer type. You can use this parameter to define the style.
Example:
Conversion success:
---With Datatype & Expression SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR, GETDATE()) AS 'Output_Success_1'; ----With Datatype, Length & Expression SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(50), GETDATE()) AS 'Output_Success_2'; --With Datatype, Length, Expression & Style SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(50), GETDATE(), 101) AS 'Output_Success_3'; ---- With Datatype, Length, Expression & Style SELECT CONVERT(VARCHAR(50), GETDATE(), 108) AS 'Output_Success_4';
Output:

SQL Convert() function output
Conversion fail:
---If Conversion Fails, returns error SELECT CONVERT(Int, '12/26/2019', 101) AS 'Output_Fail';
Output:

SQL Output
List of formatting style:
Without century | With century | Input/Output | Standard |
0 | 100 | mon dd yyyy hh:miAM/PM | Default |
1 | 101 | mm/dd/yyyy | US |
2 | 102 | yyyy.mm.dd | ANSI |
3 | 103 | dd/mm/yyyy | British/French |
4 | 104 | dd.mm.yyyy | German |
5 | 105 | dd-mm-yyyy | Italian |
6 | 106 | dd mon yyyy | – |
7 | 107 | Mon dd, yyyy | – |
8 | 108 | hh:mm:ss | – |
9 | 109 | mon dd yyyy hh:mi:ss:mmmAM (or PM) | Default + millisec |
10 | 110 | mm-dd-yyyy | USA |
11 | 111 | yyyy/mm/dd | Japan |
12 | 112 | yyyymmdd | ISO |
13 | 113 | dd mon yyyy hh:mi:ss:mmm | Europe (24 hour clock)> |
14 | 114 | hh:mi:ss:mmm | 24 hour clock |
20 | 120 | yyyy-mm-dd hh:mi:ss | ODBC canonical (24 hour clock) |
21 | 121 | yyyy-mm-dd hh:mi:ss.mmm | ODBC canonical (24 hour clock) |
126 | yyyy-mm-ddThh:mi:ss.mmm | ISO8601 | |
127 | yyyy-mm-ddThh:mi:ss.mmmZ | ISO8601 (with time zone Z) | |
130 | dd mon yyyy hh:mi:ss:mmmAM | Hijiri | |
131 | dd/mm/yy hh:mi:ss:mmmAM | Hijiri |
SQL TRY_CONVERT():
It is a SQL Conversions Function, using this function you can convert an expression from one data type to another.
If conversion succeeds, function returns the expression in the desired data type, otherwise it returns the NULL.
Syntax:
CONVERT(data_type(length), expression, style)
Description:
- Datatype: Specify the Datatype to which you want to convert the expression
- Length: It is an optional parameter that specifies the length of expression data type.
- Expression: Specify any valid expression that you want to convert.
- Style: It is an optional parameter of integer type. You can use this parameter to define the style.
Example:
Conversion success:
---With Datatype & Expression SELECT TRY_CONVERT(VARCHAR, GETDATE()) AS 'Output_Success_1'; ----With Datatype, Length & Expression SELECT TRY_CONVERT(VARCHAR(50), GETDATE()) AS 'Output_Success_2'; --With Datatype, Length, Expression & Style SELECT TRY_CONVERT(VARCHAR(50), GETDATE(), 101) AS 'Output_Success_3'; ---- With Datatype, Length, Expression & Style SELECT TRY_CONVERT(VARCHAR(50), GETDATE(), 108) AS 'Output_Success_4';
Conversion fail:
---If Conversion Fails, returns error SELECT TRY_CONVERT(Int, '12/26/2019', 101) AS 'Output_Fail';
Output:

SQL TRY_CONVERT() function
Hope you enjoyed the post, Your valuable feedback, question, or comments about this post are always welcome or you can leave us message on our contact form , we will revert to you asap.
Recommended SQL Server Post:
Configuration Functions in SQL Server