sql server datetime

The DATETIME data type in SQL Server is used to store date and time values. It's a fundamental data type for tracking events, recording transactions, and storing timestamps. It represents a point in time, typically with a precision down to the second. This means you can store dates and times from the year 1753 to 9999. Crucially, it's important to remember that the precision of the time component is limited to the second. If you need greater precision (e.g., milliseconds), you should consider using the DATETIME2 data type, which is generally preferred for modern applications.One key aspect of DATETIME is its storage format. It's internally stored as a number representing the number of days and fractions of a day since a specific date. This internal representation is crucial for calculations and comparisons involving dates and times. Understanding this internal representation can help you avoid unexpected results when performing date arithmetic.In many cases, DATETIME is sufficient for storing date and time information. However, if you need more control over the precision of the time component, or if you need to store dates outside the range of 1753 to 9999, you should consider using the DATETIME2 data type. This is particularly important for applications that need to store very recent or very old timestamps.Using DATETIME is straightforward. You declare a column of this type when creating a table. For example, in a table called `Orders`, you might have a column named `OrderDate` of type DATETIME to store the date and time of each order.