DatesADDyear

DatesADDyear is a date arithmetic function designed to add or subtract a number of years to a given date. It is used in data processing, reporting, and scheduling to shift dates while preserving the original month and day where possible.

Syntax and availability vary by platform. Common forms include DATESADDyear(date, years) or DateAdd('year', years, date). In some environments, the operation is expressed by adding an interval such as date + interval '1 year'. The exact parameter order and naming depend on the language or database.

Parameters typically include a starting date and an integer number of years. The result is a date value representing the input date with the year component adjusted by the specified amount. Behavior for dates like February 29 depends on the implementation: if the target year is not a leap year, some systems adjust to February 28, while others may shift to March 1 or raise an error. Most implementations aim to preserve the month and day when possible, falling back to the closest valid date when needed.

Examples illustrate usage: DATESADDyear('2020-02-29', 1) might yield '2021-02-28' in non-leap years; DATESADDyear('2010-07-04', -5) yields '2005-07-04'. Because behavior can differ, it is advisable to consult the specific language or database documentation for exact rules and edge cases.

See also: DATEADD, ADD_MONTHS, and general date arithmetic.