Hello readers! In this journal article, we will be discussing SQL Server date types. Date and time values are important data types in SQL Server that allow you to perform calculations, comparisons, and manipulations with date and time data. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about SQL Server date types, including their syntax, usage, and examples.
What are SQL Server Date Types?
SQL Server date types are used to store date and time values in a database. The main date types in SQL Server are date, datetime, datetime2, and smalldatetime. Each of these date types have different characteristics that make them suitable for different situations. Below is a table that summarizes the characteristics of each date type:
| Date Type | Syntax | Range | Storage Size | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DATE | YYYY-MM-DD | January 1, 1 AD to December 31, 9999 AD | 3 bytes | 1 day |
| DATETIME | YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS | January 1, 1753 to December 31, 9999 AD | 8 bytes | 3.33 milliseconds |
| DATETIME2 | YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS.nnnnnnn | January 1, 1 AD to December 31, 9999 AD | 6 to 8 bytes | 100 nanoseconds |
| SMALLDATETIME | YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS | January 1, 1900 to June 6, 2079 | 4 bytes | 1 minute |
Date
The DATE data type is used to store date values only. It is commonly used in situations where you need to store only the date component of a date and time value. The syntax for the DATE data type is YYYY-MM-DD.
The range of the DATE data type is from January 1, 1 AD to December 31, 9999 AD, and it has a storage size of 3 bytes. The accuracy of the DATE data type is 1 day.
Datetime
The DATETIME data type is used to store date and time values. It is commonly used in situations where you need to store both the date and time components of a date and time value. The syntax for the DATETIME data type is YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS.
The range of the DATETIME data type is from January 1, 1753 to December 31, 9999 AD, and it has a storage size of 8 bytes. The accuracy of the DATETIME data type is 3.33 milliseconds.
Datetime2
The DATETIME2 data type is similar to the DATETIME data type, but it provides greater precision. It is commonly used in situations where you need to store date and time values with a high level of accuracy. The syntax for the DATETIME2 data type is YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS.nnnnnnn.
The range of the DATETIME2 data type is from January 1, 1 AD to December 31, 9999 AD, and it has a storage size of 6 to 8 bytes. The accuracy of the DATETIME2 data type is 100 nanoseconds.
Smalldatetime
The SMALLDATETIME data type is similar to the DATETIME data type, but it provides less precision. It is commonly used in situations where you need to store date and time values with minute precision. The syntax for the SMALLDATETIME data type is YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS.
The range of the SMALLDATETIME data type is from January 1, 1900 to June 6, 2079, and it has a storage size of 4 bytes. The accuracy of the SMALLDATETIME data type is 1 minute.
FAQs
What type of date should I use?
The type of date you should use depends on your requirements. If you need to store only the date component of a date and time value, use the DATE data type. If you need to store both the date and time components of a date and time value, use the DATETIME or DATETIME2 data types. If you need to store date and time values with minute precision, use the SMALLDATETIME data type.
What is the maximum date range?
The maximum date range for the DATE data type is from January 1, 1 AD to December 31, 9999 AD. The maximum date range for the DATETIME and DATETIME2 data types is from January 1, 1753 to December 31, 9999 AD. The maximum date range for the SMALLDATETIME data type is from January 1, 1900 to June 6, 2079.
What is the difference between DATETIME and DATETIME2?
The main difference between DATETIME and DATETIME2 is their level of precision. DATETIME provides accuracy up to 3.33 milliseconds, while DATETIME2 provides accuracy up to 100 nanoseconds. DATETIME2 also has a larger range of values and supports more fractional seconds.
What is the storage size of each date type?
The storage size of the DATE data type is 3 bytes, the storage size of the DATETIME data type is 8 bytes, the storage size of the DATETIME2 data type is 6 to 8 bytes, and the storage size of the SMALLDATETIME data type is 4 bytes.
Can I convert between different date types?
Yes, you can convert between different date types using the CONVERT or CAST function in SQL Server.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed SQL Server date types, including their syntax, usage, and examples. We have covered the main date types in SQL Server, including DATE, DATETIME, DATETIME2, and SMALLDATETIME, and their characteristics. We have also provided a table summarizing the characteristics of each date type and answered some frequently asked questions about SQL Server date types. We hope that this article has been helpful in understanding SQL Server date types and their usage.