PL/SQL is an extension of the SQL language that is used to write procedural code in Oracle databases. One of the most commonly used functions in PL/SQL is the SYSDATE function.
The SYSDATE function in PL/SQL returns the current system date and time of the database server where the code is executed. The syntax of the function is very simple and it does not require any arguments.
Example
Here’s an example of how the SYSDATE function can be used in PL/SQL:
DECLARE
current_date DATE;
BEGIN
current_date := SYSDATE;
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('The current date and time is: ' || current_date);
END;
In this example, the current date and time are retrieved using the SYSDATE function and stored in the current_date variable. The DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE procedure is used to display the current date and time on the console.
The output of this code will be something like this:
The current date and time is: 08-APR-23 05.33.15.344663 PM
It’s worth noting that the SYSDATE function returns the date and time in the format defined by the NLS_DATE_FORMAT parameter of the database. Therefore, the output format of the date and time may vary depending on the configuration of the database.
In summary, the SYSDATE function in PL/SQL is a simple but powerful function that allows developers to retrieve the current date and time of the database server. This function is useful in many scenarios, such as logging, auditing, and scheduling tasks based on the current date and time.