SYSUTCDATETIME (Transact-SQL)

Returns a datetime2 value that contains the date and time of the computer on which the instance of SQL Server is running. The date and time is returned as UTC time (Coordinated Universal Time). The fractional second precision specification has a range from 1 to 7 digits. The default precision is 7 digits.

Note

SYSDATETIME and SYSUTCDATE have more fractional seconds precision than GETDATE and GETUTCDATE. SYSDATETIMEOFFSET includes the system time zone offset. SYSDATETIME, SYSUTCDATE, and SYSDATETIMEOFFSET can be assigned to a variable of any one of the date and time types.

For an overview of all Transact-SQL date and time data types and functions, see Date and Time Data Types and Functions. For information and examples common to date and time data types and functions, see Using Date and Time Data.

Transact-SQL Syntax Conventions

Syntax

SYSUTCDATETIME ( )

Return Type

datetime2

Remarks

Transact-SQL statements can refer to SYSUTCDATETIME anywhere they can refer to a datetime2 expression.

SYSUTCDATETIME is a nondeterministic function. Views and expressions that reference this function in a column cannot be indexed.

Note

SQL Server 2008 obtains the date and time values by using the GetSystemTimeAsFileTime() Windows API. The accuracy depends on the computer hardware and version of Windows on which the instance of SQL Server is running. The precision of this API is fixed at 100 nanoseconds. The accuracy can be determined by using the GetSystemTimeAdjustment() Windows API.

Examples

The following examples use the six SQL Server system functions that return current date and time to return the date, time, or both. The values are returned in series; therefore, their fractional seconds might be different.

A. Showing the formats that are returned by the date and time functions

The following example shows the different formats that are returned by the date and time functions.

SELECT SYSDATETIME() AS SYSDATETIME
    ,SYSDATETIMEOFFSET() AS SYSDATETIMEOFFSET
    ,SYSUTCDATETIME() AS SYSUTCDATETIME
    ,CURRENT_TIMESTAMP AS CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
    ,GETDATE() AS GETDATE
    ,GETUTCDATE() AS GETUTCDATE;

Here is the result set.

SYSDATETIME() 2007-04-30 13:10:02.0474381

SYSDATETIMEOFFSET()2007-04-30 13:10:02.0474381 -07:00

SYSUTCDATETIME() 2007-04-30 20:10:02.0474381

CURRENT_TIMESTAMP 2007-04-30 13:10:02.047

GETDATE() 2007-04-30 13:10:02.047

GETUTCDATE() 2007-04-30 20:10:02.047

B. Converting date and time to date

The following example shows you how to convert date and time values to date.

SELECT CONVERT (date, SYSDATETIME())
    ,CONVERT (date, SYSDATETIMEOFFSET())
    ,CONVERT (date, SYSUTCDATETIME())
    ,CONVERT (date, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP)
    ,CONVERT (date, GETDATE())
    ,CONVERT (date, GETUTCDATE());

Here is the result set.

2007-04-30

2007-04-30

2007-04-30

2007-04-30

2007-04-30

2007-04-30

C. Converting date and time values to time

The following example shows you how to convert date and time values to time.

SELECT CONVERT (time, SYSDATETIME()) AS SYSDATETIME()
    ,CONVERT (time, SYSDATETIMEOFFSET()) AS SYSDATETIMEOFFSET()
    ,CONVERT (time, SYSUTCDATETIME()) AS SYSUTCDATETIME()
    ,CONVERT (time, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP) AS CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
    ,CONVERT (time, GETDATE()) AS GETDATE()
    ,CONVERT (time, GETUTCDATE()) AS GETUTCDATE();

Here is the result set.

SYSDATETIME() 13:18:45.3490361

SYSDATETIMEOFFSET()13:18:45.3490361

SYSUTCDATETIME() 20:18:45.3490361

CURRENT_TIMESTAMP 13:18:45.3470000

GETDATE() 13:18:45.3470000

GETUTCDATE() 20:18:45.3470000

See Also

Reference

CAST and CONVERT (Transact-SQL)

Date and Time Data Types and Functions (Transact-SQL)