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How do you implement a last-modified column in SQL?
I know for a date-created column you can just set the default value to getdate(). For last-modified I have always used triggers, but it seems like there must be a better way.
Thanks.
Triggers are the best way, because this logic is intimately associated with the table, and not the application. This is just about the only obvious proper use of a trigger that I can think of, apart from more granular referential integrity.
But I think ‘last-modified’ dates are a flawed concept anyway. What makes the ‘last-changed’ timestamp any more valuable than the ones that came before it? You generally need a more complete audit trail.