I have a SQLite data base which I am pulling data for a specific set of dates (lets say 01-01-2011 to 01-01-2011). What is the best way to implement this query into SQL. Ideally I would like the following line to run: SELECT * FROM database where start_date < date_stamp and end_date date_stamp This obviously does not work when I store the dates as strings. My solution (which I think is messy and I am hoping for another one) is to convert the dates into integers in the following format: YYYYMMDD Which makes the above line able to run (theoretically). IS there a better method? Using python sqlite3 Would the answer be any different if I were using SQL not SQLite