How to Use the GETDATE() Function in SQL Server

Key Takeaways

1. GETDATE() returns the current system date and time in SQL Server.
2. It's commonly used for timestamping, filtering, and date calculations.
3. GETDATE() uses the server's local time zone and is non-deterministic.

The GETDATE() function in SQL Server is a built-in function that returns the current date and time of the system on which the SQL Server instance is running. It's commonly used for timestamping records, filtering data based on the current date, and performing date calculations.

Syntax

GETDATE()

This function does not require any arguments and returns the current date and time as a DATETIME value in the format YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss.mmm.

Basic Usage

To retrieve the current date and time:

SELECT GETDATE() AS CurrentDateTime;

This will return the current system date and time.

Common Use Cases

1. Setting Default Values in Tables

You can use GETDATE() to set default values for date columns when creating tables:

CREATE TABLE Orders (
    OrderID INT PRIMARY KEY,
    OrderDate DATETIME DEFAULT GETDATE()
);

This ensures that if no value is provided for OrderDate during insertion, the current date and time will be used.

2. Filtering Records Based on Current Date

To select records from a table where the date matches the current date:

SELECT * FROM Orders
WHERE CAST(OrderDate AS DATE) = CAST(GETDATE() AS DATE);

This query compares only the date parts, ignoring the time components.

3. Calculating Date Differences

To calculate the difference in years between a stored date and the current date:

SELECT EmployeeID, DATEDIFF(YEAR, BirthDate, GETDATE()) AS Age
FROM Employees;

This computes the age of each employee based on their birth date.

4. Adding or Subtracting Time Intervals

To add or subtract time intervals from the current date:

-- Add 7 days
SELECT DATEADD(DAY, 7, GETDATE()) AS DateAfter7Days;

-- Subtract 1 month
SELECT DATEADD(MONTH, -1, GETDATE()) AS DateBefore1Month;

These queries adjust the current date by the specified intervals.

Extracting Specific Date Parts

To extract specific parts of the current date:

SELECT 
    YEAR(GETDATE()) AS CurrentYear,
    MONTH(GETDATE()) AS CurrentMonth,
    DAY(GETDATE()) AS CurrentDay;

This retrieves the current year, month, and day separately.

Formatting Date and Time

To format the current date and time into a specific string format:

SELECT FORMAT(GETDATE(), 'dd-MM-yyyy HH:mm:ss') AS FormattedDateTime;

This formats the date and time as dd-MM-yyyy HH:mm:ss.

Considerations

• Time Zone: GETDATE() returns the current date and time based on the server's local time zone. If you need the UTC time, consider using GETUTCDATE().

• Precision: For higher precision (including fractional seconds), SYSDATETIME() can be used as it returns a DATETIME2 value with more precision than GETDATE().

• Non-Deterministic Function: GETDATE() is non-deterministic, meaning it can return different results each time it's called, even within the same query. This can affect indexing and query optimization.

Conclusion

The GETDATE() function is a versatile tool in SQL Server for working with the current date and time. Whether you're timestamping records, filtering data, or performing date calculations, GETDATE() provides a straightforward way to incorporate the current system date and time into your SQL queries.

FAQs

What does the GETDATE() function return?

It returns the current date and time of the SQL Server system.

How is GETDATE() typically used in SQL queries?

It's used for timestamping records, filtering by current date, and date arithmetic.

Does GETDATE() provide UTC time?

No, it provides local server time. Use GETUTCDATE() for UTC.

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