Simple patterns can be used to format the values of date/time fields, numeric fields, text fields, and password fields. They each have their own rules governing the valid formation of patterns. There is a limited set of characters that you can use in a pattern, and the syntax of a valid pattern differs among date/time fields, numeric fields, text fields, and password fields.For information about the valid characters that you can use in a pattern and examples of valid constructs, see one of the sections listed below. For information about complex patterns for a date/time field, numeric field, or text field, see Complex field patterns.