TO_TIMESTAMP(x, format) convert the string x ( CHAR , VARCHAR2 , NCHAR , or NVARCHAR2 ) to a TIMESTAMP. : TO_TIMESTAMP « Date Timestamp Functions « Oracle PL/SQL Tutorial

1. Oracle PL/SQL Tutorial
2. Date Timestamp Functions
3. TO_TIMESTAMP

SQL>
SQL> SELECT TO_TIMESTAMP('2005-05-13 07:15:31.1234', 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS.FF')
  2  FROM dual;

TO_TIMESTAMP('2005-05-1307:15:31.1234','YYYY-MM-DDHH24:MI:SS.FF')
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
13-MAY-05 07.15.31.123400000 AM

SQL>