title: Are date literals faster than using to_date?
body: <p>Which of these is faster? Are there any other differences?</p>
  
  <p>A.</p>
  
  <pre><code>SELECT
      *
  FROM
      my_table
  WHERE
      my_date &gt;= DATE '2013-01-17';
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>B.</p>
  
  <pre><code>SELECT
      *
  FROM
      my_table
  WHERE
      my_date &gt;= TO_DATE('17/01/2013','dd/mm/yyyy');
  </code></pre>