How to convert/cast varchar to date?

Question

I have a date column with data type varchar(mm-dd-yyyy) in mySQL 5.1. How do I convert it to DATE?

Here is what I have so far -

SELECT id, date 
FROM tableName 
WHERE (CAST((SUBSTRING (date FROM 7 FOR 4 )||'/'||SUBSTRING (date FROM 4 FOR 2 )||'/'||SUBSTRING (date FROM 1 FOR 2 )) AS DATE) >= '01/01/2012' ) 
ORDER BY date DESC;

Getting this

error - #1064 - You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'FROM 7 FOR 4 )

Please help.

Answer 1

You can use MySQL's STR_TO_DATE() function

SELECT id, date 
FROM tableName 
WHERE STR_TO_DATE(date,'%Y-%m-%d') >= '01/01/2012' 
ORDER BY date DESC;

Although I suspect you will have an easier time using Unix Timestamps

SELECT id, date 
FROM tableName 
WHERE UNIX_TIMESTAMP(STR_TO_DATE(date,'%d/%m/%Y')) >= UNIX_TIMESTAMP('01/01/2012') 
ORDER BY date DESC;