Datetime data types store both a calendar date and a time-of-day value in a single database value. Different database systems use different names and provide different precision and timezone-related features.
Many real-world events require both the date and exact time to be recorded, such as transactions, logins, payments, and system events.
A transaction may be recorded as 2026-08-08 14:35:20 so analysts know exactly when it occurred.
SELECT
TransactionID,
TransactionDateTime
FROM Transactions;Datetime values are widely used for transaction timestamps, order creation, login activity, payments, system logs, audit records, and operational events.
- Datetime stores date and time together.
- It is useful for event tracking.
- Transaction systems commonly use timestamps.
- Precision varies by database system.
- Timezone-aware types may be available depending on the database.
What is a datetime value?
A datetime value stores both a calendar date and a time-of-day value.
Where are datetime values commonly used?
They are commonly used for transactions, system logs, payments, login events, and audit records.