# IT:AD:SQL Server:HowTo:SQL Functions/Date Functions #



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## Notes ##


### Regarding @@LANGUAGE, @@DATEFORMAT and @@DATEFIRST

Sql Server works with dates, such as when converting from/to strings, depending on `@@LANGUAGE`.


### @@DATEFORMAT
Since the default language is us-english, `@@DATEFORMAT` is equal to `mdy` -- so the result is by default pretty unportable.

A way to correct((http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189491.aspx)) that is:


<sxh sql>
-- Valid values are mdy, dmy, ymd, ydm, myd, and dym
SET DATEFORMAT ymd.
</sxh>




## Regarding @@DATEFIRST

Another Date variable affected by @@LANGUAGE is the @@DATEFIRST which determines what is the first day of the week (us = sunday):

<sxh sql>

SELECT @@LANGUAGE       -- Returns us_english
SELECT DATEFIRST        -- Returns 7 (SUN). Notice no quotes or anything...

SET LANGUAGE italian
SELECT @@DATEFIRST      -- Returns 1 (MON)

set LANGUAGE us_english
SELECT @@DATEFIRST      --Returns 7 (SUN)

</sxh>







### Getting the Current DateTime ###

Use GETDATE(), GETUTCDATE() -- or the more precise SYSDATETIME() and SYSUTCDATETIME()

<div info>

* @@DATEFORMAT: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms189491.aspx
* @@DATEFIRST: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187766.aspx
* CONVERT: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187928.aspx
* DATEPART: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms174420.aspx