| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Parameter type | String |
| Syntax | NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT = "format" |
| Default value | Derived from NLS_TERRITORY |
| Modifiable | ALTER SESSION |
| Range of values | Any valid datetime format mask |
NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT defines the default timestamp format to use with the TO_CHAR and TO_TIMESTAMP functions.
The value must be surrounded by quotation marks as follows:
NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT = 'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS.FF'
You can specify the value of NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT by setting it in the initialization parameter file. You can specify its value for a client as a client environment variable.
You can also alter the value of NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT by changing its value in the initialization parameter and then restarting the instance. To alter the value during a session use the ALTER SESSION SET statement.