The CURRENT_TIMESTAMP function in MySQL is a date and time function that returns the current date and time in the format ‘YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS’. It is commonly used to insert the current timestamp into a column when a new record is added to a table or to retrieve the current timestamp in queries.

Key points

Here are some key points about the CURRENT_TIMESTAMP function:

Syntax

The CURRENT_TIMESTAMP function can be used with or without parentheses. The following syntax options are both valid:

SELECT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP();

or

SELECT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP;

Usage in INSERT Statements

When you are inserting data into a table and want to record the current timestamp, you can use the CURRENT_TIMESTAMP function. For example:

INSERT INTO my_table (column1, column2, timestamp_column)
VALUES ('value1', 'value2', CURRENT_TIMESTAMP);

Usage in UPDATE Statements

You can also use CURRENT_TIMESTAMP in UPDATE statements to update the timestamp column to the current date and time:

UPDATE my_table
SET timestamp_column = CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
WHERE some_condition;

Default Value for Timestamp Columns

When defining a table, you can set a default value for a timestamp column using CURRENT_TIMESTAMP:

CREATE TABLE my_table (
    id INT,
    name VARCHAR(255),
    timestamp_column TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);

Time Zone Considerations

The value returned by CURRENT_TIMESTAMP is based on the server’s system time. It’s important to be aware of the time zone settings of your MySQL server and ensure they align with your application’s requirements.

Compatibility

The CURRENT_TIMESTAMP function is widely supported in different database systems, making it a portable choice for obtaining the current date and time.

In summary, the CURRENT_TIMESTAMP function in MySQL is a convenient tool for working with date and time information, especially when you need to capture or reference the current timestamp in your database operations.