The EXTRACT() function with examples in PostgreSQL

At times, you may only need a certain portion of a date interval or TIMESTAMP. Luckily in PostgreSQL, we have the EXTRACT() function that allows you to grab just those particular bits of data. See how with a few simple examples in this post…

manual-date-stamping-tool — Photo by Chiheb Chakchouk on Unsplash

Note: All data, names or naming found within the database presented in this post, are strictly used for practice, learning, instruction, and testing purposes. It by no means depicts actual data belonging to or being used by any party or organization.

OS and DB used:

Xubuntu Linux 18.04.2 LTS (Bionic Beaver)
PostgreSQL 11.2

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I’ll use a couple of tables from the PostgreSQL practice DVD Rental database for the example queries below.

The examples in this post are based on this arbitrary query and result set:

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Pass in the DAY parameter to get the day:

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SELECT
EXTRACT(DAY FROM p.payment_date)
FROM customer AS c
INNER JOIN payment AS p
ON c.customer_id = p.customer_id
WHERE c.first_name LIKE 'Z%'
LIMIT 10;
date_part
-----------
17
17
17
17
18
19
1
2
17
17
(10 rows)

Where the returned number value is based on a 1-31 days in a month range.

If you need the day of the week, dow is there:

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SELECT
EXTRACT(dow FROM p.payment_date)
FROM customer AS c
INNER JOIN payment AS p
ON c.customer_id = p.customer_id
WHERE c.first_name LIKE 'Z%'
LIMIT 10;
date_part
-----------
6
6
6
1 6
0
1
4
5
6
6
(10 rows)

Sunday starts at 0 (zero) and the days proceed through to 6 for Saturday.

What about the day of the year? No worries, doy will get it:

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SELECT
EXTRACT(doy FROM p.payment_date)
FROM customer AS c
INNER JOIN payment AS p
ON c.customer_id = p.customer_id
WHERE c.first_name LIKE 'Z%'
LIMIT 10;
date_part
-----------
48
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(10 rows)

This argument returns a value between 1 and 365, representative of the days in a year.

Here’s an example with week:

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SELECT
EXTRACT(week FROM p.payment_date)
FROM customer AS c
INNER JOIN payment AS p
ON c.customer_id = p.customer_id
WHERE c.first_name LIKE 'Z%'
LIMIT 10;
date_part
-----------
7
7
7
7
7
8
9
9
11
11
(10 rows)

Use month to retrieve a numerical month-of-the-year (1-12) value:

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SELECT
EXTRACT(MONTH FROM p.payment_date)
FROM customer AS c
INNER JOIN payment AS p
ON c.customer_id = p.customer_id
WHERE c.first_name LIKE 'Z%'
LIMIT 10;
date_part
-----------
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
(10 rows)

I’ve only covered but a few of the available arguments you can use with EXTRACT() so be sure and visit the official documentation for a full rundown of available options.

Like what you have read? See anything incorrect? Please comment below and thanks for reading!!!

Explore the official PostgreSQL 11 On-line Documentation for more information.

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Josh Otwell has a passion to study and grow as a SQL Developer and blogger. Other favorite activities find him with his nose buried in a good book, article, or the Linux command line. Among those, he shares a love of tabletop RPG games, reading fantasy novels, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Disclaimer: The examples presented in this post are hypothetical ideas of how to achieve similar types of results. They are not the utmost best solution(s). The majority, if not all, of the examples provided, is performed on a personal development/learning workstation-environment and should not be considered production quality or ready. Your particular goals and needs may vary. Use those practices that best benefit your needs and goals. Opinions are my own.

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The EXTRACT() function with examples in PostgreSQL

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