[discrete]
[[esql-date_parse]]
=== `DATE_PARSE`

*Syntax*

[source,txt]
----
DATE_PARSE([format,] date_string)
----

*Parameters*

`format`::
The date format. Refer to the
https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/14/docs/api/java.base/java/time/format/DateTimeFormatter.html[`DateTimeFormatter`
documentation] for the syntax. If `null`, the function returns `null`.

`date_string`::
Date expression as a string. If `null` or an empty string, the function returns
`null`.

*Description*

Returns a date by parsing the second argument using the format specified in the
first argument.

*Example*

[source.merge.styled,esql]
----
include::{esql-specs}/docs.csv-spec[tag=dateParse]
----
[%header.monospaced.styled,format=dsv,separator=|]
|===
include::{esql-specs}/docs.csv-spec[tag=dateParse-result]
|===