# now

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/llms.txt). Component-specific: [cloud-data-platform-full.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform-full.txt)

---
title: now
latest-operator-version: v26.2.4
latest-console-tag: v3.12.0
latest-connect-version: 4.113.1
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.2.4
docname: sql/sql-functions/other-functions/now
page-component-name: cloud-data-platform
page-version: master
page-component-version: master
page-component-title: Cloud
page-relative-src-path: sql/sql-functions/other-functions/now.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/cloud-docs/edit/main/modules/reference/pages/sql/sql-functions/other-functions/now.adoc
description: The `now()` function returns the current date and time.
page-topic-type: reference
page-git-created-date: "2026-09-08"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-09-08"
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/reference/sql/sql-functions/other-functions/now.md -->

The `now()` function returns the current date and time. It is equivalent to [`current_timestamp`](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/reference/sql/sql-functions/timestamp-functions/current-timestamp/) without an explicit precision.

## [](#syntax)Syntax

```sql
NOW()
```

The `now()` function takes no arguments.

## [](#return-type)Return type

`timestamptz`

## [](#examples)Examples

```sql
SELECT NOW();
```

The final result displays the current date and time in the session’s time zone:

```sql
-----------------------------
 now
-----------------------------
 2026-09-01 16:56:06.464016
-----------------------------
```