1. SQL Language Reference
  2. Functions
  3. SYSDATE

SYSDATE

Syntax

Description of sysdate.eps follows
Description of the illustration sysdate.eps

Purpose

SYSDATE returns the current date and time set for the operating system on which the database server resides. The data type of the returned value is DATE, and the format returned depends on the value of the NLS_DATE_FORMAT initialization parameter. The function requires no arguments. In distributed SQL statements, this function returns the date and time set for the operating system of your local database. You cannot use this function in the condition of a CHECK constraint.

In a multitenant setup existing PDBs and PDBs created later inherit the timezone of the system.

If you want SYSDATE to return the timezone of the PDB, then you must set the initialization parameter TIME_AT_DBTIMEZONE to TRUE before starting the PDB.

You can change the timezone using ALTER SYSTEM SET TIME_ZONE or ALTER DATABASE db_name SET TIME_ZONE.

You can set SYSTIMESTAMP to return system time by setting the initialization parameter TIME_AT_DBTIMEZONE to FALSE and restarting the database.

Note:

  • For more see TIME_AT_DBTIMEZONE of the Oracle Database Reference.

  • The FIXED_DATE initialization parameter enables you to set a constant date and time that SYSDATE will always return instead of the current date and time. This parameter is useful primarily for testing. Refer to Oracle Database Reference for more information on the FIXED_DATE initialization parameter.

Examples

The following example returns the current operating system date and time:

SELECT TO_CHAR
    (SYSDATE, 'MM-DD-YYYY HH24:MI:SS') "NOW"
     FROM DUAL;

NOW
-------------------
04-13-2001 09:45:51