1. Database Reference
  2. Initialization Parameters
  3. Initialization Parameters
  4. NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT

1.222 NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT

NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT defines the default timestamp format to use with the TO_CHAR and TO_TIMESTAMP functions.

Property Description

Parameter type

String

Syntax

NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT = "format"

Default value

Derived from NLS_TERRITORY

Modifiable

ALTER SESSION

Modifiable in a PDB

Yes

Range of values

Any valid datetime format mask

Basic

No

The value must be surrounded by quotation marks as follows:

NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT = 'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS.FF'

You can specify the value of NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT by setting it in the initialization parameter file. You can specify its value for a client as a client environment variable.

You can also alter the value of NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT by changing its value in the initialization parameter and then restarting the instance. To alter the value during a session use the ALTER SESSION SET statement.

Note:

The value of this initialization parameter NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT is used to initialize the session value of this parameter, which is the actual value referenced by the SQL query processing. This initial value is overridden by a client-side value if the client uses the Oracle JDBC driver or if the client is OCI-based and the NLS_LANG client setting (environment variable) is defined. The initialization parameter value is, therefore, usually ignored.

See Also:

Oracle Database Globalization Support Guide for more information about this parameter