EXTRACT

Function

Extracts a specific part (year, month, day, hour, etc.) from a date or timestamp.

Syntax

EXTRACT(field FROM timestamp)

Example

SELECT EXTRACT(YEAR FROM hire_date) as year,
       EXTRACT(MONTH FROM hire_date) as month
FROM employees;

About SQL EXTRACT

The EXTRACT keyword belongs to the Function category of SQL statements. Extracts a specific part (year, month, day, hour, etc.) from a date or timestamp. Understanding this command is essential for any developer working with relational databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, or SQL Server.

SQL (Structured Query Language) is the standard language for managing and querying relational databases. The EXTRACT statement is supported across all major database systems, though specific syntax may vary slightly between PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, SQL Server, and SQLite. Always consult your database's documentation for vendor-specific features and limitations.

Best practices for using EXTRACT: always test queries on a development database before running them in production, use parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection, and leverage EXPLAIN to understand query performance. For complex queries, consider using CTEs (Common Table Expressions) to improve readability and maintainability.

Related SQL Keywords

DATE_TRUNCNOWINTERVAL