Hello and welcome to our comprehensive guide on SQL Server Getdate Without Time. If you’re wondering how to extract the date portion from a datetime column in SQL Server, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Getdate Without Time, including syntax, examples, and FAQs.
Table of Contents
- Introduction to Getdate Without Time
- Syntax and Usage
- Examples of Getdate Without Time
- Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction to Getdate Without Time
Getdate is a built-in function in SQL Server that returns the current date and time of the system. However, sometimes we only want to extract the date portion and ignore the time component entirely. This is where Getdate Without Time comes in. By using this function, we can remove the time portion from a datetime column and return only the date.
Getdate Without Time is also known as TRUNC or DATE_TRUNC in other database management systems. It’s a powerful tool that can help us perform a range of operations on datetime columns and improve the efficiency of our queries.
Syntax and Usage
The syntax for Getdate Without Time is simple:
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| CAST(GETDATE() AS DATE) | Returns the current date without the time component |
As you can see, we’re using the CAST function to convert the result of Getdate into a DATE data type, which only includes the date portion.
We can also use other functions in conjunction with Getdate Without Time to perform more complex operations. For example, we can use DATEADD to subtract or add a certain number of days, months, or years from the current date.
Parameters
Getdate Without Time doesn’t have any parameters or arguments. It’s a standalone function that returns the current date without the time component.
Return Type
The return type of Getdate Without Time is DATE, which only includes the date portion and ignores the time component entirely.
Examples of Getdate Without Time
Now that we understand the syntax and usage of Getdate Without Time, let’s take a look at some real examples to see how it works in practice.
Example 1: Extract the current date without time
To extract the current date without the time component, we can simply use the CAST function on Getdate:
SELECT CAST(GETDATE() AS DATE) AS [Current Date]
This will return the current date without the time component:
| Current Date |
|---|
| 2022-08-09 |
Example 2: Filter records by date range
We can also use Getdate Without Time to filter records based on a date range. For example, let’s say we have a table called Orders that contains a datetime column called OrderDate. We want to retrieve all orders that were placed between January 1, 2022, and June 30, 2022.
We can achieve this by using the following query:
SELECT * FROM Orders
WHERE OrderDate BETWEEN '2022-01-01' AND '2022-06-30'
However, this query will include all records that fall within that date range, even if they were placed at a specific time during the day. To exclude the time component, we can use Getdate Without Time on the OrderDate column:
SELECT * FROM Orders
WHERE CAST(OrderDate AS DATE) BETWEEN '2022-01-01' AND '2022-06-30'
This will only return records where the OrderDate falls within the specified date range, without taking the time component into account.
Example 3: Calculate the age of a person
We can also use Getdate Without Time to calculate the age of a person based on their birthdate. Let’s say we have a table called Employees that contains a datetime column called Birthdate. We want to calculate the age of each employee in years.
We can achieve this by using the following query:
SELECT EmployeeName,
DATEDIFF(YEAR, Birthdate, GETDATE()) AS [Age]
FROM Employees
This query will calculate the difference in years between the current date and the Birthdate column for each employee. However, this calculation will include the time component, which will skew the results. To exclude the time component, we can use Getdate Without Time on the Birthdate column:
SELECT EmployeeName,
DATEDIFF(YEAR, CAST(Birthdate AS DATE), GETDATE()) AS [Age]
FROM Employees
This will calculate the age of each employee in years based on their birthdate, without including the time component.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the difference between Getdate and Getdate Without Time?
A1. Getdate is a built-in function in SQL Server that returns the current date and time of the system. Getdate Without Time is a variation of this function that removes the time component and returns only the date. The main difference between the two is that Getdate includes the time component, while Getdate Without Time ignores it entirely.
Q2. How do I compare two dates in SQL Server?
A2. To compare two dates in SQL Server, you can use the comparison operators such as =, <, >, <=, >=. However, if you want to compare two dates based on their date component only, you need to use the CAST function to convert them into the DATE data type. For example, to compare two dates without their time component:
SELECT * FROM Orders
WHERE CAST(OrderDate AS DATE) = CAST('2022-08-01' AS DATE)
Q3. Can I use Getdate Without Time on any datetime column?
A3. Yes, you can use Getdate Without Time on any datetime column in SQL Server. It will remove the time component from the column and return only the date portion. However, keep in mind that using Getdate Without Time on a datetime column will convert it to the DATE data type, which may affect the precision of your results.
Q4. What is the difference between DATE and DATETIME data types?
A4. DATE and DATETIME are two data types in SQL Server that represent date and time values. The main difference between them is their precision. The DATE data type stores only the date component without the time, while the DATETIME data type stores both the date and time components. This means that the DATETIME data type has a higher precision than the DATE data type.
Q5. How do I truncate a datetime column in SQL Server?
A5. To truncate a datetime column in SQL Server, you can use the CAST function to convert it to the DATE data type, which only includes the date portion. For example:
SELECT CAST(OrderDate AS DATE) AS [Order Date]
FROM Orders
This will return only the date portion of the OrderDate column, without the time component.
Congratulations, you have now learned everything you need to know about SQL Server Getdate Without Time. We hope you found this guide informative and useful. If you have any further questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.