# TO\_NUMBER

Converts a `CHAR` or `VARCHAR` type value to a `DECIMAL` value.

## Syntax

```sql
TO_NUMBER ( value [, format_string ] )

```

## Arguments

* `value`: Any `CHAR` or `VARCHAR` type value.
* `format_string`: The format string used to convert the input `value`.

## Return Type

A decimal value.

## Remarks

* If the `format_string` is not specified, the input argument is converted to a numeric value.
* The return value will have a precision of `DECIMAL(65,15)`.

The following table describes the elements in a `format_string`.

| Element            | Description                                                                                                                                                                              | Example      |
| ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------ |
| **,**(comma)       | Specifies the position of commas in the input value. While multiple commas can be specified in a format, it cannot be used at the start or to the right of a decimal in a format string. | 9,999,999    |
| **.**(period)      | Specifies the position of the decimals. Only one decimal can be specified in a format string.                                                                                            | 9,999.99     |
| **$**(Dollar sign) | Specifies that the input value has a leading $ (Dollar) sign.                                                                                                                            | $999         |
| **EEEE**           | Specifies that the input value is in scientific notation.                                                                                                                                | 9.9EEE       |
| **9**              | Specifies the number of digits, with a leading**-**(minus) if the number is negative. The output will have no leading zeroes, except for a zero value.                              | 99999        |
| **S**              | Depending on it its placement, it identifies a number as positive or negative with the use of**+**(plus) or**-**(minus) sign.                                                  | S999 or 999S |

## Example

The following examples demonstrate the use of `TO_NUMBER` function.

```sql
SELECT TO_NUMBER('9876.34') AS "Output";

```

```output

+---------+
| Output  |
+---------+
| 9876.34 |
+---------+

```

```sql
SELECT TO_NUMBER('9876.34', '999999.99') AS "Output";

```

```output

+---------+
| Output  |
+---------+
| 9876.34 |
+---------+

```

```sql
SELECT TO_NUMBER('5645342', '9999999') AS "Output";

```

```output

+---------+
|  Output |
+---------+
| 5645342 |
+---------+

```

```sql

SELECT TO_NUMBER('1,234.56789', '999,999,999.99999') AS "Output";

```

```output

+------------+
| Output     |
+------------+
| 1234.56789 |
+------------+

```

```sql

SELECT TO_NUMBER('$78.12', '$99.99') AS "Output";

```

```output

+--------+
| Output |
+--------+
|  78.12 |
+--------+

```

```sql
SELECT TO_NUMBER('123,456,789', '999,999,999') AS "Output";

```

```output

+-----------+
| Output    |
+-----------+
| 123456789 |
+-----------+

```

```sql
SELECT TO_NUMBER('1.01234567890000000000E010', '9.99999999999999999999EEEE') AS "Output";

```

```output

+---------------+
| Output        |
+---------------+
| 10123456789.0 |
+---------------+

```

***

Modified at: February 24, 2023

Source: [/db/v9.1/reference/sql-reference/numeric-functions/to-number/](https://docs.singlestore.com/db/v9.1/reference/sql-reference/numeric-functions/to-number/)

(An index of the documentation is available at /llms.txt)