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# FORMAT\_DATE

```
FORMAT_DATE(date,output_pattern)
```

Returns a string representation of a date value according to a given pattern.

Available in:

| Processors | SQL Studio |
| ---------- | ---------- |
| ✓          | ✓          |

*Sample code:*

```sql
USE `kafka`;
SELECT 
    FORMAT_DATE(_meta.timestamp,'dd-MM-yyyy HH:mm'), 
    _meta.timestamp 
FROM nyc-yellow-taxi-trip
LIMIT 1;

```

*Output:*

```json
{
  "value": {
    "FORMAT_DATE": "28-11-2023 20:28",
    "timestamp": "2023-11-28T20:28:45.41Z"
  }
}
```


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