# ToDate (String dateStr)
| **Name** | ***ToDate*** |
| ----------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Syntax | ToDate (String dateStr) |
| Purpose | To return a date converted from a string. |
| Description | Converts string into a date using the current culture. Either returns the converted date or returns null if the conversion fails. |
| Return Type | DateTime |
| Parameters | dateStr \[System.String] – A string containing date in the local culture format |
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**Example**
In this example, we are passing a date time value in a format NOT present in the acceptable date time formats list in Astera Data Stack, to the function transformation object using a *Variables* object.
Where,
*dateStr* = MAR.8.22
{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** The following screenshot shows the acceptable date formats in Astera Data Stack.
{% endhint %}
In the output window, you can see that the provided string has been converted into an acceptable DateTime value.
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