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# KATER__IS_BEFORE

True where the date is before the value.

{/* Written by apps/landing-page/scripts/docs/write_kater_functions.py from the compiler's function registry, kater_sql/function_docs.py and scripts/docs/sql-language.md. Do not edit it by hand: change those, then run the script. */}

**Family:** [Date conditions](https://kater.ai/docs/sql-reference/functions/date-conditions/)

## Syntax

```sql
KATER__IS_BEFORE(field, value)
```

## Arguments

| Argument | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `field` | The date or timestamp to test. |
| `value` | The value to compare with. A value, or a parameter a reader supplies. |

## Returns

TRUE or FALSE. It is NULL where the field is empty, so a filter leaves that row out.

## Usage notes

- On a timestamp, a date value is midnight at the start of that day.

## Example

This Sandbox query reads the sample shop's orders. The table shows the rows that Kater gave.

```sql {6}
SELECT
  orders.order_month AS "Order Month",
  EVAL(orders.count_distinct__order_id) AS "Orders"
FROM kater_dataset.orders AS orders
WHERE
  KATER__IS_BEFORE(orders.order_date, DATE '2025-04-01')
GROUP BY
  orders.order_month
ORDER BY
  1
```

| Order Month | Orders |
| --- | --- |
| 2025-01-01 | 141 |
| 2025-02-01 | 155 |
| 2025-03-01 | 133 |

## Compiles to

The call compiles to the same SQL on DuckDB and on Snowflake.

```sql
orders.order_date < CAST('2025-04-01' AS DATE)
```

## See also

- [Filters and parameters](https://kater.ai/docs/model/filters-and-parameters/)
- Other functions in [Date conditions](https://kater.ai/docs/sql-reference/functions/date-conditions/): [`KATER__IS_AFTER`](https://kater.ai/docs/sql-reference/functions/kater__is_after/), [`KATER__IS_ON_OR_AFTER`](https://kater.ai/docs/sql-reference/functions/kater__is_on_or_after/), [`KATER__IS_ON_OR_BEFORE`](https://kater.ai/docs/sql-reference/functions/kater__is_on_or_before/), [`KATER__IS_ON`](https://kater.ai/docs/sql-reference/functions/kater__is_on/), [`KATER__IS_NOT_ON`](https://kater.ai/docs/sql-reference/functions/kater__is_not_on/), [`KATER__IS_WITHIN_LAST`](https://kater.ai/docs/sql-reference/functions/kater__is_within_last/)

On this page

Syntax
Arguments
Returns
Usage notes
Example
Compiles to
See also

Kater SQL Functions Date conditions

KATER__IS_BEFORE

True where the date is before the value.

Family: Date conditions

Syntax

1
KATER__IS_BEFORE(field, value)

Arguments

Argument	Description
`field`	The date or timestamp to test.
`value`	The value to compare with. A value, or a parameter a reader supplies.

Returns

TRUE or FALSE. It is NULL where the field is empty, so a filter leaves that row out.

Usage notes

On a timestamp, a date value is midnight at the start of that day.

Example

This Sandbox query reads the sample shop’s orders. The table shows the rows that Kater gave.

1
SELECT
2
  orders.order_month AS "Order Month",
3
  EVAL(orders.count_distinct__order_id) AS "Orders"
4
FROM kater_dataset.orders AS orders
5
WHERE
6
  KATER__IS_BEFORE(orders.order_date, DATE '2025-04-01')
7
GROUP BY
8
  orders.order_month
9
ORDER BY
10
  1

Order Month	Orders
2025-01-01	141
2025-02-01	155
2025-03-01	133

Compiles to

The call compiles to the same SQL on DuckDB and on Snowflake.

1
orders.order_date < CAST('2025-04-01' AS DATE)

See also

Filters and parameters
Other functions in Date conditions: KATER__IS_AFTER, KATER__IS_ON_OR_AFTER, KATER__IS_ON_OR_BEFORE, KATER__IS_ON, KATER__IS_NOT_ON, KATER__IS_WITHIN_LAST