CURRENT_USER (Transact-SQL)

Returns the name of the current user. This function is equivalent to USER_NAME().

Transact-SQL Syntax Conventions

Syntax

CURRENT_USER

Return Types

sysname

Remarks

CURRENT_USER returns the name of the current security context. If CURRENT_USER is executed after a call to EXECUTE AS switches context, CURRENT_USER will return the name of the impersonated context. If a Windows principal accessed the database by way of membership in a group, the name of the Windows principal will be returned instead of the name of the group.

Examples

A. Using CURRENT_USER to return the current user name

The following example returns the name of the current user.

SELECT CURRENT_USER;
GO

B. Using CURRENT_USER as a DEFAULT constraint

The following example creates a table that uses CURRENT_USER as a DEFAULT constraint for the order_person column on a sales row.

USE AdventureWorks;
IF EXISTS (SELECT TABLE_NAME FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
      WHERE TABLE_NAME = 'orders22')
   DROP TABLE orders22
GO
SET NOCOUNT ON
CREATE TABLE orders22
(
 order_id int IDENTITY(1000, 1) NOT NULL,
 cust_id  int NOT NULL,
 order_date smalldatetime NOT NULL DEFAULT GETDATE(),
 order_amt money NOT NULL,
 order_person char(30) NOT NULL DEFAULT CURRENT_USER
)
GO

The following code inserts a record in the table. The user that is executing these statements is named Wanida.

INSERT orders22 (cust_id, order_amt)
VALUES (5105, 577.95)
GO
SET NOCOUNT OFF
GO

The following query selects all information from the orders22 table.

SELECT * FROM orders22;
GO

Here is the result set.

order_id    cust_id     order_date           order_amt    order_person
----------- ----------- -------------------- ------------ ------------
1000        5105        2005-04-03 23:34:00  577.95       Wanida
                        
(1 row(s) affected)

C. Using CURRENT_USER from an impersonated context

In the following example, user Wanida executes the following Transact-SQL code.

SELECT CURRENT_USER;
GO
EXECUTE AS USER = 'Arnalfo';
GO
SELECT CURRENT_USER;
GO
REVERT;
GO
SELECT CURRENT_USER;
GO

Here is the result set.

Wanida
Arnalfo
Wanida

See Also

Reference

USER_NAME (Transact-SQL)
SYSTEM_USER (Transact-SQL)
sys.database_principals (Transact-SQL)
ALTER TABLE (Transact-SQL)
CREATE TABLE (Transact-SQL)
System Functions (Transact-SQL)

Help and Information

Getting SQL Server 2005 Assistance