Oracle TO_DATE

The Oracle TO_DATE function converts a character set (CHAR, VARCHAR2, NCHAR, or NVARCHAR2) to a value of DATE data type.

Oracle TO_DATE example

select 
to_date('2011/11/06', 'yyyy/mm/dd') 
from dual;

11/6/2011

select 
to_date('061111', 'MMDDYY') 
from dual;

6/11/2011

select 
to_date(sysdate, 'dd-mm-yyyy') 
from dual;

11/6/0011

select 
to_date('20100715', 'yyyymmdd') 
from dual;

7/15/2010