Question: Is it possible to format a date field in a SELECT \* query? I want to get all of the columns from my table but need a different format from the date.

Something like:

```
SELECT *, FORMATDATE(date,'%m-%d-%y') AS date FROM my_table;

```

or do I have to process it in php after the query?

Answer: 
```
select DATE_FORMAT(your_date_field_name,'%m-%d-%y') AS whatever FROM your_table_name_here;

```

the result is something like this

**09-22-11**

as opposed to this

**2011-02-02 15:42:51**
If you are writing application containing different timezones and formats better practice will be using UNIX timestamp stored in int(8) field, otherwise you can format date fields in queries.