Everything You Need to Know about Today’s Date in SQL Server

Hello Dev, if you are reading this article, you are probably interested in learning more about working with dates in SQL Server. One of the most common tasks in database development is working with dates and times, and it can be a bit tricky at times. In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about the date functions available in SQL Server, with a focus on today’s date. We will cover everything from basic date functions to more advanced features, so buckle up and let’s dive in!

What is Today’s Date in SQL Server?

Before we dive into the details of working with dates in SQL Server, let’s first define what we mean by today’s date. In SQL Server, the current date can be obtained using the GETDATE() function. This function returns the current system date and time of the SQL Server instance in which it is executed. The date and time are returned as a DATETIME data type, which includes both date and time components.

Using GETDATE() Function to Retrieve Today’s Date

The GETDATE() function can be used in a SELECT statement to retrieve the current date and time:

Example:	SELECT GETDATE();
Output:	2022-01-05 13:45:02.727

Note that the output of the GETDATE() function may vary depending on your system settings and time zone.

Working with Dates in SQL Server

Now that we know how to retrieve the current date and time in SQL Server, let’s explore some of the most commonly used date functions in SQL Server.

The DATEADD() Function

The DATEADD() function is used to add or subtract a specified number of units (days, months, years, etc.) to a given date. The syntax of the DATEADD() function is as follows:

Function:	DATEADD(datepart, number, date)

Here, the datepart parameter specifies the unit of time to be added or subtracted (year, quarter, month, day, etc.), the number parameter specifies the number of units to be added or subtracted, and the date parameter is the starting date.

Example:

Suppose we want to add 10 days to today’s date. We can do this using the DATEADD() function as follows:

Example:	SELECT DATEADD(day, 10, GETDATE());
Output:	2022-01-15 13:45:02.727

In this example, we added 10 days to today’s date using the DATEADD() function.

The DATEDIFF() Function

The DATEDIFF() function is used to calculate the difference between two dates in SQL Server. The syntax of the DATEDIFF() function is as follows:

Function:	DATEDIFF(datepart, startdate, enddate)

Here, the datepart parameter specifies the unit of time to be used (year, quarter, month, day, etc.), the startdate parameter is the starting date, and the enddate parameter is the ending date.

Example:

Suppose we want to calculate the number of days between today’s date and a future date (for example, January 31, 2022). We can use the DATEDIFF() function as follows:

Example:	SELECT DATEDIFF(day, GETDATE(), ‘2022-01-31’);
Output:	26

In this example, we calculated the number of days between today’s date and January 31, 2022 using the DATEDIFF() function.

FAQs

What is the format of the date returned by GETDATE() function?

The date returned by the GETDATE() function is in the format: YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS.mmm, where YYYY is the year, MM is the month, DD is the day, HH is the hour, MI is the minute, SS is the second, and mmm is the millisecond.

Can I change the format of the date returned by GETDATE() function?

Yes, you can change the format of the date returned by the GETDATE() function using the CONVERT() function. The syntax of the CONVERT() function is as follows:

Function:	CONVERT(datatype, expression, style)

Here, the datatype parameter is the target data type, the expression parameter is the expression to be converted, and the style parameter is the conversion style.

What is the maximum date that can be stored in SQL Server?

The maximum date that can be stored in SQL Server is December 31, 9999.

How can I get the week number for a given date in SQL Server?

You can get the week number for a given date in SQL Server using the DATEPART() and DATEADD() functions as follows:

Example:	SELECT DATEPART(week, DATEADD(day, 1-DATEPART(weekday, ‘2022-01-01’), ‘2022-01-01’));
Output:	1

In this example, we calculated the week number for January 1, 2022 using the DATEPART() and DATEADD() functions.

Conclusion

Working with dates in SQL Server can be a bit tricky, but with a good understanding of the available date functions, you can easily perform complex date calculations and manipulations. In this article, we covered everything you need to know about today’s date in SQL Server, from the basics of retrieving the current date to more advanced date functions like DATEADD() and DATEDIFF(). We hope that this article has been helpful and informative, and that you feel more confident in your ability to work with dates in SQL Server.