MySQL UTC_DATE() function

UTC_DATE() function

MySQL UTC_DATE returns the current UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) date as a value in 'YYYY-MM-DD' or YYYYMMDD format depending on the context of the function i.e. in a string or numeric context.

This function is useful in -

• UTC_DATE() is not affected by local time zones, making it useful for scenarios where consistent time measurement is required across different locations.
• As it provides a date in UTC, it allows for consistent and accurate date comparisons regardless of the time zone settings of the server.
• UTC_DATE() is valuable in log tables to record when events or actions occurred, providing an audit trail for system activity with standardized date information.
• The UTC date format is commonly used for exchanging date-related information between different systems or applications, ensuring consistency in date representation.
• Since UTC doesn't observe Daylight Saving Time, using UTC_DATE() helps avoid potential complications caused by changes in local time zone offsets.
• In real-time applications where precise time measurements are crucial, UTC_DATE() ensures that the date is represented in a standardized format.
• It's useful for filtering records or data based on date criteria, such as selecting records within a specific date range.

Syntax:

UTC_DATE; UTC_DATE()

Syntax Diagram: 1

Syntax Diagram: 2

MySQL Version: 8.0

Pictorial Presentation:

Example:

The following statement will return the current UTC date.

Code:

SELECT UTC_DATE,UTC_DATE();

Output:

mysql> SELECT UTC_DATE,UTC_DATE();
+------------+------------+
| UTC_DATE   | UTC_DATE() |
+------------+------------+
| 2015-04-14 | 2015-04-14 | 
+------------+------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

Example : UTC_DATE() function in numeric format

The following statement will return the current UTC date in numeric format.

Code:

SELECT UTC_DATE()+0;

Output:

mysql> SELECT UTC_DATE()+0;
+--------------+
| UTC_DATE()+0 |
+--------------+
|     20150414 | 
+--------------+
1 row in set (0.04 sec)

Video Presentation:

All Date and Time Functions:

Click here to see the MySQL Date and time functions.

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