Understanding the Two Digit Year Cutoff in SQL Server

By default the two digit year cutoff in SQL Server is set to 2049, which means if you supply a date with a two digit year it uses 2049 as the dividing line to determine if it should prepend '19' or '20' to the year you provided. You can change this, and in some cases you might have to, but relying on it is tricky, it's an instance wide setting that someone might change to fix something else. It's important to know about it, but play it safe - use four digit years.

Andy Warren is a software trainer focusing on SQL Server, a member of the PASS Board of Directors, and a principal in this site - SQLShare.com.

Kasey Wheeler on 12/15/2010

Good vid.

Mark Jones on 12/15/2010

Never really explains how the rounding works with the cut-off.

Todd Burrell on 12/16/2010

Little things like the explanation of the 2-digit cut-off really make these videos worthwhile. This is probably something I never would have come across on my own.

rfalanga on 12/16/2010

Thank you for the information that this could be an instance while change!

Irfan Mohammed on 12/16/2010

Super information. Its like learning new things every day in few minutes

Vamsi on 12/17/2010

Good Points

M on 12/20/2010

good stuff