Hey everyone,
I’m working on a database project and I’m not sure which data type to use for storing date and time values in SQL Server 2008 and newer versions. I’ve come across two options: datetime and datetime2.
I know there are differences in precision and storage requirements, but I’m wondering if there’s a general recommendation or best practice for choosing between them. Should we just stick with datetime2 for all cases now?
Has anyone got experience with this or knows of any guidelines? I’d really appreciate some advice on when to use each type or if it’s better to just go with one of them all the time.
Thanks in advance for your help!
if u r using newer projects, datetime2 is the better choice. it offers greater precision & range, but keep datetime if u gotta stick with legacy systems for compatibility. use whichever fits u best.
In my experience, datetime2 is generally the superior choice for modern SQL Server projects. It offers enhanced precision (up to 100 nanoseconds) and a wider date range (0001 to 9999), which can be crucial for certain applications. Additionally, datetime2 has better storage efficiency, especially for dates before 1753. However, the decision should ultimately depend on your specific requirements. If you’re working with legacy systems or third-party applications that expect datetime, stick with it for compatibility. Otherwise, I’d recommend adopting datetime2 as your default for new projects. It provides more flexibility and future-proofing without significant drawbacks. Remember to consider performance implications if you’re dealing with large datasets or frequent date comparisons. In most cases, the difference is negligible, but it’s worth testing in your specific scenario.
hey there! i’m curious, have u considered the time zone aspect? datetime2 doesn’t handle time zones natively, but datetimeoffset does. what kinda data r u dealing with? might be worth exploring if ur app needs to handle multiple time zones or global users. thoughts?