[discrete]
[[esql-date_format]]
=== `DATE_FORMAT`

*Syntax*

[source,esql]
----
DATE_FORMAT([format,] date)
----

*Parameters*

`format`::
Date format (optional).  If no format is specified, the
`yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss.SSSZ` format is used.  If `null`, the function returns
`null`.

`date`::
Date expression. If `null`, the function returns `null`.

*Description*

Returns a string representation of a date, in the provided format.

*Example*

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