CURRENT_DATE and CURRENT_TIMESTAMP in SQL - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does CURRENT_DATE return in SQL?

CURRENT_DATE returns the current date from the system in the format YYYY-MM-DD, without the time part.

beginner

What is the difference between CURRENT_DATE and CURRENT_TIMESTAMP?

CURRENT_DATE returns only the date (year, month, day). <br>CURRENT_TIMESTAMP returns both the date and the current time (hours, minutes, seconds, and fractional seconds).

beginner

How can you use CURRENT_TIMESTAMP in a SQL query?

You can use CURRENT_TIMESTAMP to get the exact date and time when a query runs. <br>Example: SELECT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP;

intermediate

Is CURRENT_DATE affected by time zones in SQL?

Yes, CURRENT_DATE returns the date based on the database server's time zone settings.

intermediate

Can CURRENT_TIMESTAMP be used to track when a record was inserted?

Yes, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP is often used in INSERT or UPDATE statements to record the exact date and time of the change.

What does CURRENT_DATE return in SQL?

A The date of the last update

B The current time only

C The current date and time

D The current date without time

CURRENT_DATE returns only the date part, like 2024-06-01.

Which SQL function returns both date and time?

A CURRENT_DATE

B CURRENT_TIMESTAMP

C CURRENT_TIME

D NOW()

CURRENT_TIMESTAMP returns date and time together.

If you want to store the exact time a record was created, which should you use?

A CURRENT_DATE

B DATE()

C CURRENT_TIMESTAMP

D TIME()

CURRENT_TIMESTAMP includes both date and time, perfect for tracking creation time.

Does CURRENT_DATE include the time of day?

A No, only date

B Yes, always

C Only if specified

D Depends on the database

CURRENT_DATE returns only the date, no time.

Which of these is true about CURRENT_TIMESTAMP?

A It returns date and time

B It returns only the date

C It returns only the time

D It returns the server uptime

CURRENT_TIMESTAMP returns both date and time.

Explain what CURRENT_DATE and CURRENT_TIMESTAMP return in SQL and when you might use each.

Think about whether you need just the day or the full date and time.

Describe how time zones might affect the values returned by CURRENT_DATE and CURRENT_TIMESTAMP.

Consider where the database server is located and its clock settings.