SQL Server function to return minimum date (January 1, 1753)

Question

I am looking for a SQL Server function to return the minimum value for datetime, namely January 1, 1753. I\'d rather not hardcode that date value into my script.

Does an

Answer 1

Here is a fast and highly readable way to get the min date value

Note: This is a Deterministic Function, so to improve performance further we might as well apply WITH SCHEMABINDING to the return value.

Create a function

CREATE FUNCTION MinDate()
RETURNS DATETIME WITH SCHEMABINDING
AS
BEGIN
    RETURN CONVERT(DATETIME, -53690)

END

Call the function

dbo.MinDate()

Example 1

PRINT dbo.MinDate()

Example 2

PRINT 'The minimimum date allowed in an SQL database is ' + CONVERT(VARCHAR(MAX), dbo.MinDate())

Example 3

SELECT * FROM Table WHERE DateValue > dbo.MinDate()

Example 4

SELECT dbo.MinDate() AS MinDate

Example 5

DECLARE @MinDate AS DATETIME = dbo.MinDate()

SELECT @MinDate AS MinDate