Simple way to insert time information in mysql is using now()

now() will automatically insert appropriate depends on type, let say we have field in mysql database in these format :

1. birth (date), now() will insert current date, ex: 2007-05-02

2. birth (datetime), now() will insert current date + current time, ex : 2007-05-2 22:54:30

3. birth (time), now() will insert only time information, ex : 22:54:30

this snippet will get same result with now()

$birth=date(‘Y’).’-‘.date(‘m’).’-‘.date(‘d’); // will be same as 2007-05-02

example in mysql command line :

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>cd c:\appserv\mysql\bin

C:\AppServ\mysql\bin>mysql -uroot -p
Enter password:
Welcome to the MySQL monitor.� Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 1 to server version: 4.0.24-nt

Type ‘help;’ or ‘\h’ for help. Type ‘\c’ to clear the buffer.

mysql> create database test;
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.03 sec)

mysql> use test;
Database changed

mysql> create table birthday_data(birth_date date not null, birth_time time not
null, full_birthday_time datetime not null);
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)

mysql> desc birthday_data;
+——————–+———-+——+—–+———————+——-+
| Field������������� | Type���� | Null | Key | Default������������ | Extra |
+——————–+———-+——+—–+———————+——-+
| birth_date�������� | date���� |����� |���� | 0000-00-00��������� |������ |
| birth_time�������� | time���� |����� |���� | 00:00:00����������� |������ |
| full_birthday_time | datetime |����� |���� | 0000-00-00 00:00:00 |������ |
+——————–+———-+——+—–+———————+——-+
3 rows in set (0.00 sec)

mysql> insert into birthday_data(birth_date) values(now());
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

mysql> insert into birthday_data(birth_time) values(now());
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

mysql> insert into birthday_data(full_birthday_time) values(now());
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

mysql> insert into birthday_data(birth_date,birth_time,full_birthday_time) value
s(now(),now(),now());
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)

mysql>
mysql> select * from birthday_data;
+————+————+———————+
| birth_date | birth_time | full_birthday_time� |
+————+————+———————+
| 2007-05-03 | 00:00:00�� | 0000-00-00 00:00:00 |
| 0000-00-00 | 09:32:15�� | 0000-00-00 00:00:00 |
| 0000-00-00 | 00:00:00�� | 2007-05-03 09:32:28 |
| 2007-05-03 | 09:32:55�� | 2007-05-03 09:32:55 |
+————+————+———————+
4 rows in set (0.00 sec)

mysql>

P.S :

• Row 1,2,3 and 4 get data from single query
• No limitation for function now() in query