SQL CURRENT_DATE Function

Summary: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the SQL CURRENT_DATE function to get the current date.

Introduction to the SQL CURRENT_DATE function #

The CURRENT_DATE function returns the current date of the machine where the database server is running.

Here’s the syntax of the CURRENT_DATE function:

CURRENT_DATECode language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Note that the CURRENT_DATE function does not require parentheses because it is a reversed word in SQL.

The CURRENT_DATE function returns a value of DATE type without the time component.

In practice, you’ll find the CURRENT_DATE function helpful for comparing and filtering dates with the current date.

SQL CURRENT_DATE function examples #

Let’s take some examples of using the CURRENT_DATE function.

Retrieving the current date #

The following statement uses the CURRENT_DATE function to retrieve the current date:

SELECT CURRENT_DATE AS today;Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Try it

Here’s the output when we run the statement on January 20, 2025:

   today
------------
 2025-01-20Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

The output indicates the format of the date is YYYY-MM-DD, which is ISO standard format for a date.

Using the CURRENT_DATE function as the default value #

When creating a new table or adding a column to an existing table, you can use the CURRENT_DATE function as a default value for a column. For example:

First, create a new table called salary_changes that uses the CURRENT_DATE function as a default value for a column:

CREATE TABLE salary_changes (
  employee_id INT NOT NULL,
  changed_date DATE NOT NULL DEFAULT CURRENT_DATE,
  salary DEC NOT NULL,
  PRIMARY KEY (employee_id, changed_date)
);Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Try it

Second, insert a new row into the salary_changes table:

INSERT INTO
  salary_changes (employee_id, salary)
VALUES
  (100, 25000);Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Try it

When you insert a new row without providing a value for the changed_date column, the database system uses the current date as the value for the column.

Third, retrieve data from the salary_changes table:

SELECT * FROM salary_changes;Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Try it

Here’s the output when we run the insert statement on January 20, 2025:

 employee_id | changed_date | salary
-------------+--------------+--------
         100 | 2025-01-20   |  25000Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Comparing with other dates #

You can use the CURRENT_DATE function to compare with other dates.

For example, the following statement finds the employees who have salary changes before today:

SELECT
  first_name,
  last_name,
  s.salary new_salary
FROM
  salary_changes s
  INNER JOIN employees e ON e.employee_id = s.employee_id
WHERE
  changed_date < CURRENT_DATE;Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Try it

Adding or subtracting days from the current date #

You can add or subtract an interval from the current date. For example:

SELECT CURRENT_DATE + INTERVAL '7 DAY' AS next_week,
       CURRENT_DATE - INTERVAL '7 DAY' AS last_week;Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Getting the current date in Oracle Database and SQL Server #

Oracle Database’s CURRENT_DATE function returns a value that includes both date and time. To get the current date without time, you use the TRUNC function to truncate the time part:

SELECT
  TRUNC(CURRENT_DATE)
FROM
  dual;Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

SQL Server does not support CURRENT_DATE function. However, it offers a function called GETDATE() that returns the current date and time.

To get the current date, you use the CAST() function with the GETDATE() function as shown in the following statement:

SELECT CAST(GETDATE() AS DATE) 'Current Date';Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Summary #

• Use the SQL CURRENT_DATE function to return the current date in the format YYYY-MM-DD.