The SQL Server GETDATE() function grabs the current date and time of the server down to the millisecond. This makes it perfect for general timestamping, logging events, and simple date/time math.
But what about time zones or when you need a rock-solid, consistent timestamp? Is GETDATE() enough, or do you need something else, like CURRENT_TIMESTAMP?
In this article, we’ll show you how and when to use GETDATE() in SQL. We’ll also cover the syntax and share some performance tips to make your queries run faster.
Table of contents
- What is the SQL GETDATE() function?
- Syntax of the GETDATE() function
- How the GETDATE function works
- Common use cases of the GETDATE function
- Using the GETDATE function in dbForge Studio for SQL Server
- Conclusion
What is the SQL GETDATE() function?
Accurately recording events, tracking changes, and making time-based calculations all depend on knowing the current date and time. While SQL Server offers many date-time functions, GETDATE() is often the simplest way to retrieve it. It captures the exact moment your query runs, and you can then combine it with other date/time functions to format the result or perform more complex operations.
Syntax of the GETDATE () function
Understanding the basic syntax
The syntax for the GETDATE() function is pretty simple:
SELECT GETDATE()This returns the current date and time of the system in a YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss.mmm format. If you need to display the output in a different way, you can use the CAST or the CONVERT SQL function.
Data type of the GETDATE() function
The GETDATE() function provides a DATETIME value. It handles dates from 1753 to 9999, which is usually plenty. However, the time part is rounded, so if you need true millisecond precision, the DATETIME data type falls short. Plus, you can’t specify the level of fractional seconds you need.
DATETIME2 offers greater precision (up to 100 nanoseconds), control, and a wider date range (from 0001 to 9999).
How the GETDATE function works
Getting today’s date in SQL with the GETDATE() function is straightforward. However, you need to understand how it works to ensure its accuracy aligns with your application’s requirements.
System dependency
The SQL Server GETDATE() function uses the server’s clock, so the result depends on the server’s local time settings. In typical scenarios, this is exactly what you want. However, if you’re running SQL Server in a virtual machine or in the cloud, things can get a little tricky. Sometimes, the host and virtual machine clocks, or the cloud provider’s time synchronization, can drift apart.
Additionally, GETDATE() doesn’t include any time zone info. If you need to get the current date and time with the correct offset, you have to use a function that returns both, such as SYSDATETIMEOFFSET().
Difference between GETDATE AND CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
You’ll often see both GETDATE() and CURRENT_TIMESTAMP functions used to get SQL Server’s current date and time, and they usually give you the same result. So, what’s the difference?
GETDATE() is a T-SQL-specific function, while CURRENT_TIMESTAMP is the ANSI standard. For everyday tasks, like just grabbing the current time in a query or logging updates, you can use either. However, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP is generally best because it’s supported by a wider range of database systems.
Also, you can use CURRENT_TIMESTAMP as a DEFAULT constraint directly in a table definition, whereas GETDATE() requires parentheses: DEFAULT (GETDATE()).
This makes CURRENT_TIMESTAMP a little more convenient for auto-timestamping new rows.
Common use cases of the GETDATE function
Timestamping data in transactions
The most common use of the GETDATE() function is to capture the exact moment a transaction is processed. To record these transactions, you need to include the function in your INSERT or UPDATE statements.
For example, if you have a table called CustomerTransactions and want to timestamp a new purchase, you would use a query like this:
INSERT INTO CustomerTransactions (CustomerID, TransactionType, TransactionAmount, TransactionDate)
VALUES (4789, 'Purchase', 149.99, GETDATE());If you want to record the last time a customer’s address was updated, you can also use GETDATE() in an UPDATE statement, like this:
UPDATE Customers
SET Address = '123 New Street', LastUpdated = GETDATE()
WHERE CustomerID = 1234;This query updates the address of customer 1234 and simultaneously records the exact date and time of the update in the LastUpdated column.
Filtering records based on current date and time
The SQL GETDATE() function is also very useful when you need to filter data based on the current date and time. Think daily reports, system monitoring, or time-based data analysis.
So, for instance, if you want to find all employees who have logged in today hours in a EmployeeLogins table, you can run this query:
SELECT *
FROM EmployeeLogins
WHERE CAST(LoginTime AS DATE) = CAST(GETDATE() AS DATE);When you use GETDATE() within a WHERE clause, you’re essentially saying, “I only want rows where this date/time-related condition, involving the current date and time, is true.”
In this case, we’re using the CAST function to convert both values to the DATE data type and compare just the date portion of the LoginTime with today’s date.
If, instead, you need to find all employees who have logged in in the last 24 hours for security analysis, use:
SELECT *
FROM EmployeeLogins
WHERE LoginTime >= DATEADD(hour, -24, GETDATE());This simply compares the full date and time of the login against the calculated date and time 24 hours ago using DATEADD.
Calculating date differences
DATEDIFF() or DATEADD() are handy SQL functions for working with dates and times. DATEDIFF() tells you the difference between two dates (in years, months, days, whatever you need), while DATEADD() lets you add or subtract time from a date.
If you need to figure out how long an event lasted, manage subscription renewals, or calculate someone’s age, you can combine these functions with GETDATE().
For example, let’s say you have a Subscriptions table with an ExpiryDate column. You can find all the subscriptions expiring within the next month with the following query:
SELECT
SubscriptionID,
ExpiryDate
FROM
Subscriptions
WHERE
ExpiryDate BETWEEN GETDATE() AND DATEADD(month, 1, GETDATE());Now, to calculate a customer’s age with GETDATE() in SQL Server, you have to find the number of years between their birthdate and today. For this, you have to use DATEDIFF(). Below you have an example:
SELECT
CustomerID,
BirthDate,
DATEDIFF(year, BirthDate, GETDATE()) AS Age
FROM
Customers;Just a heads-up: DATEDIFF gives you the number of completed years, so it might be one year off if their birthday hasn’t happened yet this year.
Using the GETDATE function in dbForge Studio for SQL Server
It’s easy to make mistakes when working with date/time functions like GETDATE(). You don’t want to use an IDE that leaves you hunting down syntax errors and struggling to see how GETDATE() interacts with other parts of your query.
dbForge Studio for SQL Server is an easy-to-use IDE with everything you need to develop and manage your SQL Server databases efficiently. Its SQL GUI tool offers automatic code validation and completion, so you can quickly build complex queries with GETDATE() and other functions without errors or typos.
You can also use a Visual Query Builder to skip the coding, save time, and get a better idea of how your SQL functions fit into your logic. Plus, there’s a powerful debugging tool to step through your code and inspect variable values, including the output of GETDATE(), in real time.
Writing queries with GETDATE in dbForge Studio for SQL Server
Here’s how to use the GETDATE() function in their dbForge Studio’s SQL Editor:
- Connect to your server: Open dbForge Studio for SQL Server and connect to the SQL Server database you want to work with.
- Open the SQL Editor: Сlick the New SQL button at the toolbar to navigate to the SQL Editor.
- Write your query: Now, write SELECT GETDATE();. If you start typing GETD, it will suggest GETDATE() for you, so you don’t have to remember the exact spelling. As you write, you’ll also notice syntax highlighting, which makes your code easier to read and helps prevent typos.
- Run the query: Finally, click the Execute button to get SQL Server’s current date and time. The results will appear immediately in the result grid.
Advantages of using dbForge Studio for GETDATE queries
dbForge Studio for SQL Server features add up and make writing SQL queries, especially those with functions like GETDATE(), faster and easier. Its SQL Editor’s intuitive design helps you boost your productivity and minimize errors even if you’re not an expert. In addition, this IDE provides a bunch of tools to streamline your entire SQL workflow.
If you’re using GETDATE() to timestamp records, the Data Generator can quickly populate your database with realistic test data. And when deploying database changes, say to a new server, the Schema Comparison wizard saves you hours of work. For example, if you’re deploying a stored procedure with GETDATE(), it makes sure everything is deployed correctly and consistently across your systems.
Conclusion
The SQL Server GETDATE() function provides the current date and time of the system for a wide range of applications, from timestamps and logging to calculations and reporting. Now, the best way to learn how to use GETDATE() is to experiment with it.
Download the free 30-day trial version of dbForge Studio for SQL Server and see how easy it is to integrate GETDATE() into your queries. You can start playing around on a test server and leverage the features of dbForge Studio for SQL Server to explore how you can format the output and optimize your SQL workflows.
