What does TO_DATE('text', 'date format') do?

The function TO_DATE('text', 'date format') is specifically designed to convert a string of text that represents a date into an actual date format, using the provided date format as a guide. This capability is essential in database management and queries where dates may sometimes be stored or received in a string format rather than as a date object.

By specifying the date format, the function can accurately interpret the elements of the text string, such as the day, month, and year, and convert it into a structured date value that databases can understand and manipulate. This is particularly useful for integrating data from various sources where date formats may differ and ensures consistency and accuracy in date handling within the system.

Other choices refer to different functionalities: one about converting date types, another about converting dates to text for display, and another regarding numeric values, none of which captures the specific action of converting text representing a date into an actual date format like TO_DATE does.