---
title: 'PostgreSQL LOCALTIMESTAMP Function'
page_title: 'PostgreSQL LOCALTIMESTAMP Function By Examples'
page_description: 'This tutorial shows you how to use the PostgreSQL LOCALTIMESTAMP function to return the date and time at which the current transaction starts.'
prev_url: 'https://www.postgresqltutorial.com/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-localtimestamp/'
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updatedOn: '2024-01-26T10:03:19+00:00'
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previousLink:
  title: 'PostgreSQL LOCALTIME Function'
  slug: 'postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-localtime'
nextLink:
  title: 'PostgreSQL DATE_PART() Function'
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---

**Summary**: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the PostgreSQL `LOCALTIMESTAMP` function to return the current date and time at which the current transaction starts.

## Introduction to PostgreSQL LOCALTIMESTAMP function

The following illustrates the syntax of the `LOCALTIMESTAMP` function:

```csssql
LOCALTIMESTAMP(precision)
```

The `LOCALTIMESTAMP` function accepts one argument:

**1\) `precision`**

The `precision` argument specifies fractional seconds precision of the second field.

The `precision` argument is optional. If you omit it, its default value is 6\.

The `LOCALTIMESTAMP` function returns a [`TIMESTAMP`](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-timestamp) value that represents the date and time at which the current transaction starts.

The `LOCALTIMESTAMP` function returns a `TIMESTAMP` value **without** time zone whereas the [`CURRENT_TIMESTAMP`](postgresql-current_timestamp) function returns a `TIMESTAMP` **with** the timezone.

## PostgreSQL LOCALTIMESTAMP function examples

Let’s explore some examples of using the `LOCALTIMESTAMP` function

### 1\) Basic PostgreSQL LOCALTIMESTAMP function example

The following example uses the `LOCALTIMESTAMP` function to get the current date and time of the transaction:

```
SELECT LOCALTIMESTAMP;
```

Output:

```
         timestamp
----------------------------
 2017-08-16 09:37:38.443431
(1 row)
```

### 2\) Using PostgreSQL LOCALTIMESTAMP function with a fractional seconds precision example

To get the timestamp of the current transaction with specific fractional seconds precision, you use the `precision` argument as follows:

```css
SELECT LOCALTIMESTAMP(2);
```

The result is:

```
       timestamp
------------------------
 2017-08-16 09:39:06.64
(1 row)
```

## Summary

- Use the PostgreSQL `LOCALTIMESTAMP` function to return the date and time at which the current transaction starts.