How to extract only the year from the date in SQL Server 2008?

Dealing with real-world date scenarios

In real-world SQL Server scenarios, date handling framework could require various maneuvers. Let's open some of them:

Extracting the year from a specific date

-- Going for a date? Bring back the year!
SELECT YEAR('2008-12-03') AS YearFixedDate;
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Updating a table's column with the extracted year

-- It's update time, not curfew time!
UPDATE table
SET year_column = YEAR(date_column);
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Joining tables and extracting year from a different table

-- A little side-to-side table action!
SELECT YEAR(t2.date_column) AS Year
FROM table1 t1
JOIN table2 t2 ON t1.id = t2.id;
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Assigning date to a variable and then extracting the year

-- Variable? More like a constant date!
DECLARE @DateVariable DATE = '2008-12-03';
SELECT YEAR(@DateVariable) AS YearVariable;
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Stay vigilant with joining conditions and do unit testing on scripts before deployment.

Red flags and pro-tips in Year extraction

Smooth year extraction might often come with some speed-bump warnings:

Validate your dates

Ensure dates are in a recognized format to forbid entry to unexpected results or SQL tantrums.

Check for NULL values

NULL values in the date column will result in NULL when using the YEAR() function.

Aliases for clarity

When juggling multiple dates or complex queries, always use aliases to keep confusion off the pitch.

Timezones & data integrity

If you are dealing with cross-timezone dates, remember to use AT TIME ZONE for coherent results.

Performance considerations

Applying YEAR() in a WHERE clause or JOIN condition can slow you down. To haste things up, use indexed computed columns.

Script testing with SQLFiddle

Before your script gets the production stage, rehearsal could save you from a disaster. Use SQLFiddle to verify the expected results of your queries.