What does 'd' return in date formats?

The 'd' format in date formatting within many programming and database systems typically represents the number of the day of the month, which ranges from 01 to 31. This means that if you were to use 'd' in a date format expression, it would specifically return the numerical day of the month rather than the day of the week or any name associated with it.

Understanding the difference between the options illustrates the specific function of the 'd' format. The lowercase name of the day would correspond to a different format character, as does the capitalized name of the day. The option regarding the number of the day within the week similarly diverges from the intended function of 'd'.

In summary, 'd' serves a specific purpose in returning the day of the month and does not operate in terms of weekly or named formats, which clarifies why recognizing the correct function of date formatting is vital in utilizing these codes effectively.