11.12. LOCALTIMESTAMP

Available inDSQL, PSQL, ESQL

TypeTIMESTAMP WITHOUT TIME ZONE

Syntax 

  |LOCALTIMESTAMP [ (<precision>) ]
  | 
  |<precision> ::= 0 | 1 | 2 | 3

The optional precision argument is not supported in ESQL.

Table 11.4. LOCALTIMESTAMP Parameter
ParameterDescription

precision

Precision. The default value is 3. Not supported in ESQL

LOCALTIMESTAMP returns the current server date and time in the session time zone. The default is 3 decimals, i.e. milliseconds precision.

ⓘ
Note

  • LOCALTIMESTAMP was introduced in Firebird 3.0.4 and Firebird 2.5.9 as a synonym of CURRENT_TIMESTAMP. In Firebird 4.0, CURRENT_TIMESTAMP returns a TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE instead of a TIMESTAMP [WITHOUT TIME ZONE], while LOCALTIMESTAMP returns TIMESTAMP [WITHOUT TIME ZONE]. It is recommended to use LOCALTIMESTAMP when you do not need time zone information.

  • The default precision of LOCALTIME is 0 decimals, so LOCALTIMESTAMP is not the exact sum of CURRENT_DATE and LOCALTIME, unless you explicitly specify a precision (i.e. LOCATIME(3) or LOCALTIMESTAMP(0)).

  • Within a PSQL module (procedure, trigger or executable block), the value of LOCALTIMESTAMP will remain constant every time it is read. If multiple modules call or trigger each other, the value will remain constant throughout the duration of the outermost module. If you need a progressing value in PSQL (e.g. to measure time intervals), use Section 11.14, “'NOW'”.

Examples 

  |select localtimestamp from rdb$database
  |-- returns e.g. 2008-08-13 14:20:19.6170
  | 
  |select localtimestamp(2) from rdb$database
  |-- returns e.g. 2008-08-13 14:20:23.1200

See alsoSection 11.5, “CURRENT_TIMESTAMP”, Section 11.11, “LOCALTIME”