Using GETDATE
The GETDATE function produces the current date and time in Microsoft® SQL Server™ internal format for datetime values. GETDATE takes the null parameter ( ).
This example finds the current system date and time:
SELECT GETDATE()
Here is the result set:
-------------------------
July 29 1995 2:50 PM
(1 row(s) affected)
You can use GETDATE in designing a report to have the current date and time printed every time the report is produced. GETDATE is also useful for functions such as logging the time a transaction occurred on an account.
You can use GETDATE anywhere to return the current system date. For example, you can use GETDATE as a default value for data entry, with a local variable, or comparing an order date to today's date.