How Can I Reliably Compare Datetime Values in SQLite?

Avoiding Pitfalls in SQLite Datetime Comparisons

Directly comparing datetime strings in SQLite often leads to inconsistencies. A more robust method involves these steps:

1. Standardize to YYYYMMDD:

   • Store dates in the YYYYMMDD numeric format (e.g., 20090101 represents January 1st, 2009). This allows for straightforward numerical comparisons.

2. Efficient Queries:

   • With the YYYYMMDD format, queries become simple and reliable:

     <code class="language-sql">SELECT *
     FROM table_1
     WHERE mydate >= 20090101 AND mydate <= 20091231;</code>

     This accurately filters mydate within the specified year. Note that you no longer need quotes around the date values since they are integers.

3. Handling User Input:

   • If users provide dates in different formats, create a function or use a library to convert them to YYYYMMDD before querying the database. This ensures consistent data handling.

This approach guarantees accurate datetime comparisons in SQLite, eliminating the uncertainties of string-based comparisons.

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