CURRENT_TIME() function in MySQL

In MySQL, the CURRENT_TIME() function is a valuable tool for retrieving the current system time from the server, providing the exact time in hours, minutes, and seconds.

It is widely used in scenarios where tracking or querying the current time is essential without needing the full date. In this article, We will learn about CURRENT_TIME() function in MySQL by understanding various examples and so on.

CURRENT_TIME() function in MySQL

• The CURRENT_TIME() function in MySQL is used to retrieve the current time based on the system's time where the MySQL server is running.
  
• It returns the time part (hours, minutes, seconds) of the current date and does not include the date part.
  
• This function can be helpful when you need to record or query the current time independently of the date.

Syntax:

CURRENT_TIME
    OR
CURRENT_TIME(precision)

Parameter: This method accepts one parameter.

• precision - It specifies the returned fractional seconds precision. If the user omits the precision argument, the result will exclude precision.

Returns: It returns the current time.

Examples of CURRENT_TIME() function in MySQL

Example 1: Getting the current time using CURRENT_TIME Function.

SELECT CURRENT_TIME as Curr_time ;

Output:

Example 2:

Getting the current time using CURRENT_TIME Function with precision is set to 5.

SELECT CURRENT_TIME(5) as Curr_time ;

Output:

Example 3:

Getting the current time using CURRENT_TIME Function in numeric format.

SELECT CURRENT_TIME + 0  as Curr_time ;

Output:

Example 4:

The CURRENT_TIME function can be used to set value of columns. To demonstrate create a table named DeliveryDetails.

CREATE TABLE DeliveryDetails (
DeliveryId INT AUTO_INCREMENT,
ProductId INT NOT NULL,
ProductName VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL,
Delivered_At TIME NOT NULL,
Delivered_On DATE NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY(DeliveryId)
);

Here, we will use CURRENT_DATE and CURRENT_TIME function when a delivery will be completed. The value in Delivered_At column will be the value given by CURRENT_TIME and value in Delivered_On column will be the value given by CURRENT_DATE Function.

INSERT INTO  
DeliveryDetails(ProductId, ProductName, Delivered_At, Delivered_On)
VALUES
(101, 'Let Us C', CURRENT_TIME, CURRENT_DATE);

Now, checking the DeliveryDetails table :

SELECT * FROM DeliveryDetails;

Output :

It is important to note that the CURRENT_TIME() function returns the time in the time zone of the MySQL server. If we need to retrieve the current time in a different time zone, we can use the CONVERT_TZ() function to convert the time to the desired time zone.

Additionally, it is also worth noting that the CURRENT_TIME() function can be used as a default value for a column in a table. For example, if we want to set the default value of a time column to the current time, we can use the following syntax:

Example 5:

CREATE TABLE my_table (
  id INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
  name VARCHAR(255),
  created_at TIME DEFAULT CURRENT_TIME(),
  PRIMARY KEY (id)
);

Output:

In this example, the created_at column is set to have a default value of the current time using  the CURRENT_TIME() function.

Conclusion

The CURRENT_TIME() function in MySQL is an efficient way to manage and record time data in databases. Whether you're logging events or setting default time values, this function simplifies operations. With its flexibility in handling precision and its integration with other MySQL functions, it plays a key role in time-related queries.