Best type for date with MySQL auto-fill?

[JAB Creations]

I'm creating a table in a database and I want MySQL to create a time stamp when a new row is added. What's the most efficient type I should use? Here is a minimal example of what I need to know of course modified to what would best serve the goal of being efficient...

date VARCHAR(30),

[Jas]

I'm not sure that I understand the question, so I may need more information, but from what I can gather:

MySQL has a column type called DATETIME that actually is used for dates only (not varchar, which is for any character; I guess, you can use that as well, but I would go with DATETIME).

CREATE TABLE `dates` (
    info VARCHAR(30),
    date DATETIME
);

and then add the time like this:

INSERT INTO `dates` VALUE (
    "Hello!",
    NOW()
);

Every new row then show the time (to the second) when it was created.

[Embryo]

I'm not sure that I understand the question, so I may need more information, but from what I can gather:

MySQL has a column type called DATETIME that actually is used for dates only (not varchar, which is for any character; I guess, you can use that as well, but I would go with DATETIME).

CREATE TABLE `dates` (
    info VARCHAR(30),
    date DATETIME
);

and then add the time like this:

INSERT INTO `dates` VALUE (
    "Hello!",
    NOW()
);

Every new row then show the time (to the second) when it was created.

Jas,
I'm seeking to ad a date and time stamp to the Database or in a form field text area automatically when the user hits submit. what would be the best way of doing this to prevent it from being edited. I need it to reflect on the database. help please

[phpsales]

Jas is correct. You would want to use a MySQL DATETIME field and the NOW() module (alternative example below):

Example Column:
`pdate` DATETIME

Example SQL:
-- sql below uses MySQL NOW() function to insert date/time stamp
INSERT INTO `tablename` (`pdate`) VALUES (NOW());
-- example two
UPDATE `tablename` SET `pdate` = NOW();

Reference:
http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/datetime.html
http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/...l#function_now