SQL Server GETDATE Function

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Summary: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the SQL Server GETDATE() function to get the current system timestamp.

SQL Server GETDATE() function overview #

The GETDATE() function returns the current system timestamp as a DATETIME value without the database time zone offset. The DATETIME value is derived from the Operating System (OS) of the server on which the instance of SQL Server is running.

The following shows the syntax of the GETDATE() function:

GETDATE()Copy

Note the the GETDATE() is a nondeterministic function, therefore, you cannot create an index for columns that reference this function in the Views.

SQL Server GETDATE() examples #

Let’s take some examples of using the GETDATE() function.

A) Using SQL Server GETDATE() function to get the current system date and time example #

This example uses the GETDATE() function to return the current date and time of the OS on which the SQL Server is running:

SELECT 
    GETDATE() current_date_time;Copy

Here is the output:

current_date_time
-----------------------
2019-04-28 15:13:26.270

(1 row affected)Copy

B) Using SQL Server GETDATE() function to get the current system date example #

To get the current date, you can use the CONVERT() function to convert the DATETIME value to a DATE as follows:

SELECT 
    CONVERT(DATE, GETDATE()) [Current Date];Copy

The following shows the output:

Current Date
------------
2019-04-28

(1 row affected)Copy

Similarly, you can use the TRY_CONVERT() and CAST() functions to convert the result of the GETDATE() function to a date:

SELECT 
    TRY_CONVERT(DATE, GETDATE()),
    CAST(GETDATE() AS DATE);Copy

C) Using SQL Server GETDATE() function to get the current system time example #

To get the current time only, you can use the CONVERT(), TRY_CONVERT(), or CAST() function to convert the result of the GETDATE() function to a time:

SELECT 
    CONVERT(TIME,GETDATE()),
    TRY_CONVERT(TIME, GETDATE()),
    CAST(GETDATE() AS TIME);Copy

In this tutorial, you have learned how to use the SQL Server GETDATE() function to return the current system date and time.