How the CURRENT_TIME() function works in Mariadb?

The MariaDB CURRENT_TIME() function is used to obtain the current time in HH:MM:SS format, which is essential for recording time-specific data and performing time-based calculations within database operations.

Syntax

The syntax for the MariaDB CURRENT_TIME() function is as follows:

CURRENT_TIME()

This function does not require any parameters and returns the current time as a string in HH:MM:SS format.

Examples

Retrieve the Current Time

To get the current time, you can use the CURRENT_TIME() function in the following way:

SELECT CURRENT_TIME();

The output will display the current time:

+----------------+
| CURRENT_TIME() |
+----------------+
| 09:23:29       |
+----------------+

Time Comparison

If you need to compare the current time with a specific time to check if they are the same, you can use the CURRENT_TIME() function:

SELECT CURRENT_TIME() = '10:29:15' AS Is_Current_Time;

The output will show whether the current time matches the specified time:

+-----------------+
| Is_Current_Time |
+-----------------+
|               0 |
+-----------------+

Extract Hour from Current Time

To extract the hour part from the current time, use the CURRENT_TIME() function like this:

SELECT HOUR(CURRENT_TIME()) AS Current_Hour;

This will return the hour part of the current time:

+--------------+
| Current_Hour |
+--------------+
|            9 |
+--------------+

Check if It’s Past Noon

You can check if the current time is past noon using the CURRENT_TIME() function:

SELECT CURRENT_TIME() > '12:00:00' AS Is_Afternoon;

The output will indicate whether it’s past noon:

+--------------+
| Is_Afternoon |
+--------------+
|            0 |
+--------------+

Use `CURRENT_TIME()` in Conditional Statements

The CURRENT_TIME() function can be used in conditional statements within your queries:

SELECT CASE
  WHEN CURRENT_TIME() < '12:00:00' THEN 'Good morning'
  WHEN CURRENT_TIME() < '18:00:00' THEN 'Good afternoon'
  ELSE 'Good evening'
END AS Greeting;

The output will provide an appropriate greeting based on the current time:

+--------------+
| Greeting     |
+--------------+
| Good morning |
+--------------+

Here are a few functions related to the MariaDB CURRENT_TIME() function:

MariaDB CURTIME() function is used as a synonym for CURRENT_TIME().
MariaDB NOW() function returns the current date and time.
MariaDB SYSDATE() function returns the current date and time, but unlike NOW(), it returns the exact time the function is executed.

Conclusion

The CURRENT_TIME() function in MariaDB is a straightforward and powerful tool for managing time-related data within your databases. It provides precision and convenience for time-based queries and is an essential function for any database administrator or developer working with time-sensitive information. Understanding how to use CURRENT_TIME() effectively can greatly enhance the functionality of your database applications.