date

CURRENT_TIMESTAMP()

Returns the current date and time (with time zone in some engines).

Description

CURRENT_TIMESTAMP returns the current date and time according to the server's clock, including the time of day (and often the session time zone). It's a zero-argument function used for audit columns, "now" comparisons, and time-based defaults.

Syntax

CURRENT_TIMESTAMP

Parameters

None.

Return Type

Returns a TIMESTAMP (or TIMESTAMPTZ where time zones are tracked).

Examples

Loading playground environment...

CURRENT_TIMESTAMP vs NOW

They're usually equivalent. NOW() is a function-call form; CURRENT_TIMESTAMP is the standard keyword form.

Common Mistakes

Adding parentheses. Standard SQL uses CURRENT_TIMESTAMP without ().
Time zone assumptions. The value may be in UTC or the session zone; be explicit when comparing across zones.
Re-evaluation. In some engines it's fixed for the transaction; in others it can vary per row. Know your database.