DATE_FORMAT()

Format patterns control how timestamps appear in output. Each letter represents a specific component: US format with 12-hour clock and AM/PM. European format with 24-hour clock. Compact format for filenames and sorting - no separators, lexicographically sortable. Output for Reports Reports often need human-readable dates with full month names: '%M' gives the full month name. '%W' gives the full weekday name. These patterns make dates immediately readable without mental conversion. API and File Output ISO 8601 is the standard for cross-system data exchange. The Z suffix indicates UTC timezone. Mastering timezone conversions, truncation, and formatting prepares you for global applications. Practice these patterns to build robust date handling logic.