NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT

Property	Description
Parameter type	String
Syntax	`NLS_TIMESTAMP_FORMAT = "format"`
Default value	Derived from `NLS_TERRITORY`
Modifiable	`ALTER SESSION`
Range of values	Any valid datetime format mask

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

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.