How to format MySQL query date -

how format mysql query date format? current variable getting 08/13/2013 in database 2013-08-13.

$sql_stmt = "select * abs myname = 'david' , date between '$start' , '$end' order log_id;"; 

try:

$sql_stmt = "select * abs myname = 'david' , date between str_to_date('$start', '%m/%d/%y') , str_to_date('$end', '%m/%d/%y') order log_id;";