# SYSDATE

## Syntax

```sql
SYSDATE([precision])
```

## Description

Returns the current date and time as a value in `YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS` or `YYYYMMDDHHMMSS.uuuuuu` format, depending on whether the function is used in a string or numeric context.

The optional *precision* determines the microsecond precision. See [Microseconds in MariaDB](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/date-time-functions/microseconds-in-mariadb.md).

`SYSDATE()` returns the time at which it executes. This differs from the behavior for [NOW()](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/date-time-functions/now.md), which returns a constant time that indicates the time at which the statement began to execute. (Within a stored routine or trigger, NOW() returns the time at which the routine or triggering statement began to execute.)

In addition, changing the [timestamp system variable](/docs/server/server-management/variables-and-modes/server-system-variables.md#timestamp) with a [SET](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/administrative-sql-statements/set-commands/set.md) `timestamp` statement affects the value returned by `NOW()` but not by `SYSDATE()`. This means that timestamp settings in the [binary log](/docs/server/server-management/server-monitoring-logs/binary-log.md) have no effect on invocations of `SYSDATE()`.

Because `SYSDATE()` can return different values even within the same statement, and is not affected by `SET TIMESTAMP`, it is non-deterministic and therefore unsafe for replication if statement-based binary logging is used. If that is a problem, you can use row-based logging, or start the server with the [--sysdate-is-now](/docs/server/server-management/starting-and-stopping-mariadb/mariadbd-options.md#-sysdate-is-now) mariadbd option to cause `SYSDATE()` to be an alias for `NOW()`. The non-deterministic nature of `SYSDATE()` also means that indexes cannot be used for evaluating expressions that refer to it, and that statements using the `SYSDATE()` function are [unsafe for statement-based replication](/docs/server/ha-and-performance/standard-replication/unsafe-statements-for-statement-based-replication.md).

## Examples

Difference between `NOW()` and `SYSDATE()`:

```sql
SELECT NOW(), SLEEP(2), NOW();
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
| NOW()               | SLEEP(2) | NOW()               |
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
| 2010-03-27 13:23:40 |        0 | 2010-03-27 13:23:40 |
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+

SELECT SYSDATE(), SLEEP(2), SYSDATE();
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
| SYSDATE()           | SLEEP(2) | SYSDATE()           |
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
| 2010-03-27 13:23:52 |        0 | 2010-03-27 13:23:54 |
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
```

With precision:

```sql
SELECT SYSDATE(4);
+--------------------------+
| SYSDATE(4)               |
+--------------------------+
| 2018-07-10 10:17:13.1689 |
+--------------------------+
```

## See Also

* [Microseconds in MariaDB](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/date-time-functions/microseconds-in-mariadb.md)
* [timestamp server system variable](/docs/server/server-management/variables-and-modes/server-system-variables.md#timestamp)

<sub>*This page is licensed: GPLv2, originally from*</sub> [<sub>*fill\_help\_tables.sql*</sub>](https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/main/scripts/fill_help_tables.sql)

{% @marketo/form formId="4316" %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/date-time-functions/sysdate.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.