Hello everybody, If wa look inside the date and timestamp types : SQL> select dump(to_date('20051001','yyyymmdd')) from dual; DUMP(TO_DATE('20051001','YYYYMMD -------------------------------- Typ=13 Len=8: 7,213,10,1,0,0,0,0 SQL> select dump(to_timestamp('20051001','yyyymmdd')) from dual; DUMP(TO_TIMESTAMP('20051001','YYYYMMDD')) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Typ=187 Len=20: 7,213,10,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,3,0,0,0,0,0 Using timestamp instead of date makes us to waste 12 bytes per field (indexes and data). All the DB operations I/O, .... are much more efficient with date fields. If my data doesn't have fractional second precision, I've never use timestamp type. HTH Enrique On 10/5/05, Tracy Rahmlow <tracy.rahmlow@xxxxxxxx> wrote: > > Why did Oracle introduce the timestamp datatype vs. enhancing the date > datatype's precision? Is everyone migrating to the timestamp datatype? Why > would anyone want to use the date datatype anymore? It appears to me that > the timestamp does everything that the date datatype does and more. The > granularity and computations that can be performed with the timestamp > datatype appear to be much better. Thanks > __________________________________________________ > > NOTE: > On Aug. 1 my e-mail address changed to tracy.rahmlow@xxxxxxxxx Please begin > using my new e-mail address starting Aug. 1. E-mails sent to my current > address, tracy.rahmlow@xxxxxxxx, will reach me through Feb. 1, 2006 > __________________________________________________ > > Tracy Rahmlow | Lead Database Analyst > Information Systems > Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance > > AMEX Assurance Company > IDS Property Casualty Insurance Company > 3500 Packerland Drive | De Pere, WI 54115-9070 > Office: 920.330.5164 | Fax: 920.330.5350 > tracy.rahmlow@xxxxxxxx > ameriprise.com/autohome <http://ameriprise.com/autohome> > > Ameriprise made the following > annotations on 10/05/05, 06:00:35 > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > ****************************************************************************** > > "This message and any attachments are solely for the intended recipient and > may contain confidential or privileged information. If you are not the > intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, use, or distribution of the > information included in this message and any attachments is prohibited. If > you have received this communication in error, please notify us by reply > e-mail and immediately and permanently delete this message and any > attachments. Thank you." > > ****************************************************************************** > ============================================================================== > -- ------------------------------------------------ Enrique