oracle - sysdate and current_date have different types? -

the oracle docs sysdate , current_date claim both return dates:

• sysdate
• current_date

this test, though:

alter session set plsql_warnings = 'enable:all'; create table test(x date); create or replace procedure test1 authid definer     cursor s select x test current_date > x; begin x in s loop null; end loop; end; / show errors drop table test; drop procedure test1; 

produces output:

errors procedure test1: line/col  error 3/42      plw-07204: conversion away column type may result in sub-optimal query plan 

using sysdate not give same warning. suspect substituting current_date sysdate in queries runs risk of altering query plan, if date columns indexed.

edit:

select dump(current_date) dual; select dump(sysdate) dual; 

gives:

dump(current_date) typ=13 len=8: 223,7,7,9,11,23,55,0  dump(sysdate) typ=13 len=8: 223,7,7,9,11,23,55,0 

1) current_date returns current date in session time zone. need current_date? if not, stick sysdate. work procedure

2) if still need current_date, following solution. store value of current_date variable , resolve problem. let me if answers question.

drop table test; create table test(x date); create or replace procedure test1 authid definer  datevar date; cursor s select x test datevar > x; begin  datevar:=current_date; x in s loop null;  end loop;  end; / sql> show errors no errors.