> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.e6data.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CURRENT_TIMESTAMP

> Returns the query-start timestamp with microsecond precision.

<div className="e6-meta"><span className="e6-eyebrow e6-eyebrow--quiet">Scalar function</span></div>

**Aliases:** [`getdate`](/query/sql/functions/date-time/getdate), [`now`](/query/sql/functions/date-time/now)

The result is non-NULL. NULL or invalid timezone strings select UTC.

## Syntax

### Default (scalar)

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
current_timestamp()
```

### Timezone (scalar)

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
current_timestamp(timezone)
```

### Getdate default (scalar)

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
getdate()
```

### Now default (scalar)

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
now()
```

## Arguments

default, getdate default, now default: Takes no arguments.

### Timezone

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
| - | - | - | - |
| timezone | STRING constant | No | Time zone for the result; the instant does not change. Must be a constant argument. Default: UTC. |

## Returns

* Type: TIMESTAMP with a time zone
* NULL behavior: The result is non-NULL. NULL or invalid timezone strings select UTC.

## Properties

| Property | Value |
| - | - |
| Deterministic | No |
| Exact result | Yes |

## Usage notes

* The time-zone argument changes the result’s time zone without changing the instant it represents.

* Deterministic: The time differs between queries but is fixed during each query.

## Examples

### Query-start instant

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
SELECT current_timestamp() AS result;
```

Variable result: The value depends on the query start; repeated calls share that query's stored instant.

### Alias calling form: GETDATE

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
SELECT getdate() AS result;
```

Variable result: The value depends on the query start; repeated calls share that query's stored instant.

### Alias calling form: NOW

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
SELECT now() AS result;
```

Variable result: The value depends on the query start; repeated calls share that query's stored instant.


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