SQL CAST

Explicitly converts a value from one type to another — the standard SQL syntax for it.

What & Why

CAST(value AS type) explicitly converts a value to a different type. Some conversions happen automatically (like comparing a date column to a date-shaped string), but many others need to be requested explicitly with CAST.

See How It Works

BUSINESS QUESTION

A spend stored as text somewhere needs to become a real number before it can be used in arithmetic.

Convert text to a real numberStep 1 of 3

'55000'

value	type
'55000'	text

'55000' starts as text, so arithmetic is not valid yet.

EXAMPLE QUERY

SELECT CAST('55000' AS INTEGER) + 1000;

Beginner business practice