A current database is a conventional database that stores data that is valid now. For example, if a user inserts "John Smith" into the Staff table of a current database, this asserts that the fact is valid now and until it is subsequently deleted.

By contrast, a temporal database

Temporal database

A temporal database is a database with built-in time aspects, for example a temporal data model and a temporal version of Structured Query Language.More specifically the temporal aspects usually include valid-time and transaction-time...

qualifies each row with a valid time stamp, valid time period or valid time interval. For example, we can assert the fact that "John Smith" was a member of staff during the period 1 June 2001 and now.

Current databases are the most common type of database in use today. The concept of now is discussed in Clifford et alia (1997).