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Using the DATE Datatype
Use the DATE datatype to store point-in-time values (dates and times) in a table. The DATE datatype stores the century, year, month, day, hours, minutes, and seconds.
Using the TIMESTAMP Datatype
Use the TIMESTAMP datatype to store values that are precise to fractional seconds. For example, an application that must decide which of two events occurred first might use TIMESTAMP. An application that specifies the time for a job might use DATE.
Using the TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE Datatype
Because TIMESTAMP WITH TIME ZONE can also store time zone information, it is particularly suited for recording date information that must be gathered or coordinated across geographic regions.
Using the TIMESTAMP WITH LOCAL TIME ZONE Datatype
Use TIMESTAMP WITH LOCAL TIME ZONE when the time zone is not significant. For example, you might use it in an application that schedules teleconferences, where participants each see the start and end times for their own time zone.
The TIMESTAMP WITH LOCAL TIME ZONE type is appropriate for two-tier applications in which you want to display dates and times that use the time zone of the client system. It is generally inappropriate in three-tier applications because data displayed in a Web browser is formatted according to the time zone of the Web server, not the time zone of the browser. The Web server is the database client, so its local time is used.