GETDATE returns the current datetime on the database server.
This function can be used as the default value for a DATETIME column.
GETDATE is equivalent to CURRENT_TIMESTAMP.
This example returns the current datetime on the database server.
SELECT GETDATE() AS 'Now'
| Now |
|---|
| 2023-12-21 16:23:44.9351044 |
Syntax of the GETDATE function.
GETDATE()
SQL Server supports 6 system datetime functions.
SELECT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP AS 'CURRENT_TIMESTAMP',
SYSDATETIME() AS 'SYSDATETIME',
SYSDATETIMEOFFSET() AS 'SYSDATETIMEOFFSET',
SYSUTCDATETIME() AS 'SYSUTCDATETIME',
GETDATE() AS 'GETDATE',
GETUTCDATE() AS 'GETUTCDATE'
| Function | Result |
|---|---|
| CURRENT_TIMESTAMP | 2021-09-12 18:14:15.007 |
| SYSDATETIME() | 2021-09-12 18:14:15.0077586 |
| SYSDATETIMEOFFSET() | 2021-09-12 18:14:15.0077586 -05:00 |
| SYSUTCDATETIME() | 2021-09-12 23:14:15.0077586 |
| GETDATE() | 2021-09-12 18:14:15.007 |
| GETUTCDATE() | 2021-09-12 23:14:15.007 |
The results differ in microsecond precision and datetime offset values.
