Returns the current date and time as a value in 'YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss' or YYYYMMDDhhmmss format, depending on whether the function is used in string or numeric context.
SELECT NOW(), SLEEP(2), NOW();
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
| NOW() | SLEEP(2) | NOW() |
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
| 2006-04-12 13:47:36 | 0 | 2006-04-12 13:47:36 |
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
SELECT SYSDATE(), SLEEP(2), SYSDATE();
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
| SYSDATE() | SLEEP(2) | SYSDATE() |
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
| 2006-04-12 13:47:44 | 0 | 2006-04-12 13:47:46 |
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
If the fsp argument is given to specify a fractional seconds precision from 0 to 6, the return value includes a fractional seconds part of that many digits.
SELECT NOW(), SLEEP(2), NOW();
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
| NOW() | SLEEP(2) | NOW() |
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
| 2006-04-12 13:47:36 | 0 | 2006-04-12 13:47:36 |
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
SELECT SYSDATE(), SLEEP(2), SYSDATE();
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
| SYSDATE() | SLEEP(2) | SYSDATE() |
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+
| 2006-04-12 13:47:44 | 0 | 2006-04-12 13:47:46 |
+---------------------+----------+---------------------+