SQL Server CURRENT_TIMESTAMP() Function
In SQL Server, the CURRENT_TIMESTAMP()
function returns the current system timestamp of the server on which the SQL Server database instance is installed. It is returned as a datetime value without the time zone offset.
Note: The CURRENT_TIMESTAMP()
function is the ANSI equivalent to the GETDATE() function.
CURRENT_TIMESTAMP()
Parameters
No parameters.
Return Value
Returns current system timestamp of the server of datetime data type in YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss.mmm format.
Note: You can use the CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
function anywhere a DATETIME expression.
Get Current DateTime Stamp
In the following example, the CURRENT_TIMESTAMP()
is used to get the current date and time value of the server hosting the SQL Server database instance.
SELECT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP AS CurrentServerDateTime;
![](../../Content/images/sqlserver/currenttimestamp1.png)
Use Current_TimeStamp as Default Value
In the following example, the CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
is used as a default value of a column.
Create a new table tblEmployeeLogin
as shown below.
This table captures the EmployeeId
and the current date-time when an employee logs in.
Here, the column EmpLogin
takes the CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
as its default value.
It stores the timestamp as DateTime when an employee logs into the server.
CREATE TABLE tblEmployeeLogin
(
id INT IDENTITY,
EmployeeID INT NOT NULL,
EmpLogin DATETIME NOT NULL
DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
PRIMARY KEY(id)
);
Now, when an employee logs in then we will insert a new row into the tblEmployeeLogin
table , as shown below. Assume that an employee with id 2 is logged in.
INSERT INTO tblEmployeeLogin(EmployeeID) VALUES(2);
![](../../Content/images/sqlserver/currenttimestamp3.png)
Now, let's check the data. Select rows from the table and you will see that the EmpLogin
column has the datetime stamp when the new row was inserted into the tblEmployeeLogin
table.
![](../../Content/images/sqlserver/currenttimestamp4.png)
Thus, the CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
is used to get the current datetime value.