What are the best practices for using UTC in SQL databases?

What are the best practices for using UTC in SQL databases?

Using UTC in SQL databases helps avoid issues with time zone differences. Here are some best practices: 1. Store all timestamps in UTC. 2. Convert to local time only when displaying to users. 3. Use UTC in your application logic to ensure consistency.

Why is it important to store timestamps in UTC?

Storing timestamps in UTC prevents confusion caused by daylight saving time changes and different time zones, ensuring that your data remains consistent and accurate across various regions.

How can I convert UTC to local time in SQL?

You can use the AT TIME ZONE function in SQL Server or CONVERT_TZ in MySQL to convert UTC timestamps to local time. For example, in SQL Server: SELECT YourDateTimeColumn AT TIME ZONE 'UTC' AT TIME ZONE 'YourLocalTimeZone'.

Are there any performance considerations when using UTC?

Generally, using UTC has minimal performance impact. However, ensure that your indexes are optimized for queries involving time zones, as this can affect query performance.