SQL CURRENT_TIMESTAMP Function Use and Examples

Overview

The CURRENT_TIMESTAMP function returns the current server time stamp using the datetime format.

Explanation

This function is an ANSI SQL standard and it returns the same value the GETDATE() function returns. It is recommended to use this function instead of GETDATE(), because this function is an ANSI standard while GETDATE() is a SQL Server specific function.

Syntax

CURENT_TIMESTAMP

Parameters

• No parameters required

Simple CURRENT_TIMESTAMP Example

The following is a simple CURRENT_TIMESTAMP example.

SELECT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP as timestamp

Difference between GETDATE() and CURRENT_TIMESTAMP

The following example shows that there are differences between the GETDATE() function and CURRENT_TIMESATAMP.

SELECT DATEDIFF(SECOND, GETDATE(), CURRENT_TIMESTAMP) as difference

How to set the CURRENT_TIMESTAMP with a Custom Format

The following example will show the CURRENT_TIMESTAMP in the dd-MM-yyyy hh:mm:ss tt format.

SELECT FORMAT(CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, 'dd-MM-yyyy hh:mm:ss tt') as formatdate

How to set the CURRENT_TIMESTAMP with a Different Cultural Format

The following example will set the CURRENT_TIMESTAMP in the Japanese date format.

SELECT FORMAT (CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, 'dddd dd, MMMM, yyyy', 'ja-jp') as japanese

Using CURRENT_TIMESTAMP with Data from a Table

The following example will show ProductIDs with a StartDate between 8 and 9 years ago using CURRENT_TIMESTAMP as the current time.

SELECT Productid, DATEDIFF(YEAR, StartDate, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP) as years
FROM Production.ProductCostHistory
WHERE DATEDIFF(YEAR, StartDate, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP) BETWEEN 8 AND 9

Additional Information

• How to Get Current Date in SQL Server
• Mimic timestamp behavior of other database platforms to store last modified date
• SQL Convert Date to YYYYMMDD
• SQL DATEDIFF

Daniel Calbimonte

Daniel Calbimonte is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional, Microsoft Certified Trainer and Microsoft Certified IT Professional for SQL Server. He is an accomplished SSIS author, teacher at IT Academies and has over 10 years of experience as a QE and developer for SQL Server related software. He has worked for the government, oil companies, web sites, magazines and universities around the world. Daniel also regularly speaks at SQL Servers conferences and blogs.

• MSSQLTips Awards: Author of the Year Contender – 2015-2018, 2022, 2023 | Champion (100+ tips) – 2018