Using MySQL Date and Time Functions, Part 1

MySQL Date and Time Functions are used to obtain or manipulate Date and Time data type values .

Table below shows the default format of the zero value for date and time data.

Data Type	Format	Supported Range	Example
DATETIME	'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS'	'1000-01-01 00:00:00' to '9999-12-31 23:59:59'	'2008-05-23 03:08:12'
DATE	'YYYY-MM-DD'	'1000-01-01' to '9999-12-31'	'2008-05-23'
TIME	'HH:MM:SS'	'-838:59:59' to '838:59:59'	'14:25:30'
TIMESTAMP	A TIMESTAMP value is returned as a string in the format 'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS' with a display width fixed at 19 characters. To obtain the value as a number, you should add +0 to the timestamp column.	The range is '1970-01-01 00:00:01' UTC to partway through the year 2038. TIMESTAMP values are stored as the number of seconds since the epoch ('1970-01-01 00:00:00' UTC). A TIMESTAMP cannot represent the value '1970-01-01 00:00:00' because that is equivalent to 0 seconds from the epoch and the value 0 is reserved for representing '0000-00-00 00:00:00', the "zero" TIMESTAMP value.	'2008-05-23 03:08:12'
YEAR	YYYY (default format) or YY	In four-digit format, the allowable values are 1901 to 2155, and 0000. In two-digit format, the allowable values are 70 to 69, representing years from 1970 to 2069.	2008

Here are the links to Part 2 and 3:

Here is the list of MySQL Date and Time Functions for Part 1:

No.

Name

Description

ADDDATE()

This function performs date arithmetic. There are two forms of using ADDDATE:

1. ADDDATE(expr,days)

In this form, expr is an integer number of days to be added to expr. See Practice #1.

2. ADDDATE(date,INTERVAL expr unit)

In this form, ADDDATE() is a synonym for DATE_ADD.

ADDTIME(expr1,expr2)

ADDTIME adds expr2 to expr1 and returns the result. expr1 is a time or datetime expression, and expr2 is a time expression.

See Practice #2 where expr1 is a time expression.

See Practice #3 where expr1 is a datetime expression.

CONVERT_TZ(dt,from_tz,to_tz)

CONVERT_TZ converts a datetime value dt from the time zone given by from_tz to the time zone given by to_tz and returns the resulting value.

Time zone values in from_tz and to_tz can be given in several formats, none of which are case sensitive:

The value can be given as a named time zone, such as 'Europe/Helsinki', 'US/Eastern', or 'MET'. Named time zones can be used only if the time zone information tables in the mysql database have been created and populated. See Practice #3-1.

To use named time zones such as 'MET' or 'Europe/Moscow', the time zone tables must be properly set up in the system database mysql. Refer to article How to load time zone data for MySQL on Windows for more information.
The value can be given as a string indicating an offset from UTC, such as '+10:00' or '-6:00'. See Practice #3-2.
The value 'SYSTEM' indicates that the time zone should be the same as the system time zone.

If the value falls out of the supported range of the TIMESTAMP type when converted from from_tz to UTC, no conversion occurs. See Practice #3-3.

For detailed information about timestamp, read this article How to use Date and Time data as integer value in PHP and MySQL.

CURDATE()

Returns the current date as a value in 'YYYY-MM-DD' format (See Practice #4-1) or YYYYMMDD format (See Practice #4-2), depending on whether the function is used in a string or numeric context.

CURRENT_DATE
CURRENT_DATE()

Synonyms for CURDATE()

CURRENT_TIME
CURRENT_TIME()

Synonyms for CURTIME()

CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
CURRENT_TIMESTAMP()

Synonyms for NOW()

CURTIME()

Returns the current time as a value in 'HH:MM:SS' format (See Practice #8-1) or HHMMSS.uuuuuu format (See Practice #8-2), depending on whether the function is used in a string or numeric context.

The value is expressed in the current time zone.

DATE_ADD(
date,INTERVAL expr unit)

DATE_ADD performs date arithmetic by adding two dates.

The date argument specifies the starting date or datetime value. expr is an expression specifying the interval value to be added to the starting date. expr is a string; it may start with a "-" for negative intervals. unit is a keyword indicating the units in which the expr should be interpreted.

The INTERVAL keyword and the unit specifier are not case sensitive.

unit Value	expr Format
MICROSECOND	MICROSECONDS Example: INTERVAL 1 MICROSECOND Meaning: 1 microsecond Practice #9-1
SECOND	SECONDS Example: INTERVAL 1 SECOND Meaning: 1 second Practice #9-2
MINUTE	MINUTES Example: INTERVAL 12 MINUTE Meaning: 12 minutes Practice #9-3
HOUR	HOURS Example: INTERVAL 3 HOUR Meaning: 3 hours Practice #9-4
DAY	DAYS Example: INTERVAL 5 DAY Meaning: 5 days Practice #9-5
WEEK	WEEKS Example: INTERVAL 5 WEEK Meaning: 5 weeks Practice #9-6
MONTH	MONTHS Example: INTERVAL 5 MONTH Meaning: 5 months Practice #9-7
QUARTER	QUARTERS Example: INTERVAL 2 QUARTER Meaning: 2 quarters Practice #9-8
YEAR	YEARS Example: INTERVAL 3 YEAR Meaning: 3 years Practice #9-9
SECOND_MICROSECOND	'SECONDS.MICROSECONDS' Example: INTERVAL '1.000123' SECOND_MICROSECOND Meaning: 1 second and 123 microseconds Practice #9-10
MINUTE_MICROSECOND	'MINUTES.SECONDS.MICROSECONDS' Example: INTERVAL '1.1.000123' MINUTE_MICROSECOND Meaning: 1 minute, 1 second, and 123 microseconds Practice #9-11
MINUTE_SECOND	'MINUTES:SECONDS' Example: INTERVAL '1:15' MINUTE_SECOND Meaning: 1 minute and 15 seconds Practice #9-12
HOUR_MICROSECOND	'HOURS.MINUTES.SECONDS.MICROSECONDS' Example: INTERVAL '1.1.1.000123' HOUR_MICROSECOND Meaning: 1 hour, 1 minute, 1 second, and 123 microseconds Practice #9-13
HOUR_SECOND	'HOURS:MINUTES:SECONDS' Example: INTERVAL '5:21:58' HOUR_SECOND Meaning: 5 hours, 21 minutes, and 58 seconds Practice #9-14
HOUR_MINUTE	'HOURS:MINUTES' Example: INTERVAL '5:21' HOUR_MINUTE Meaning: 5 hours and 21 minutes Practice #9-15
DAY_MICROSECOND	'DAYS.HOURS.MINUTES.SECONDS.MICROSECONDS' Example: INTERVAL '1.1.1.1.000123' DAY_MICROSECOND Meaning: 1 day, 1 hour, 1 minute, 1 second, and 123 microseconds Practice #9-16
DAY_SECOND	'DAYS HOURS:MINUTES:SECONDS' Example: INTERVAL '1 2:05:27' DAY_SECOND Meaning: 1 day, 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 27 seconds Practice #9-17
DAY_MINUTE	'DAYS HOURS:MINUTES' Example: INTERVAL '1 2:05' DAY_MINUTE Meaning: 1 day, 2 hours, and 5 minutes Practice #9-18
DAY_HOUR	'DAYS HOURS' Example: INTERVAL '1 2' DAY_HOUR Meaning: 1 day and 2 hours Practice #9-19
YEAR_MONTH	'YEARS MONTHS' Example: INTERVAL '1 5' YEAR_MONTH Meaning: 1 year and 5 months Practice #9-20

If you specify an interval value that is too short (does not include all the interval parts that would be expected from the unit keyword), MySQL assumes that you have left out the leftmost parts of the interval value. See Practice #9-21.

Date arithmetic also can be performed using INTERVAL together with the + or - operator:

date + INTERVAL expr unit
date - INTERVAL expr unit

INTERVAL expr unit is allowed on either side of the + operator if the expression on the other side is a date or datetime value. See Practice #9-22.

For the - operator, INTERVAL expr unit is allowed only on the right side, because it makes no sense to subtract a date or datetime value from an interval. See Practice #9-23

Practice #1: Using ADDDATE function.

In Firefox (not IE), copy and paste the following SQL to your SQLyog query window. Note that the SQL needs to end with semi-colon if you have multiple queries in the query window. Most of the queries in the tutorials need Northwind MySQL database, you can download the database script on this page.

-- Adds 31 days to 2008-05-22
SELECT ADDDATE('2008-05-22', 31);

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using ADDDATE function

Practice #2: Using ADDTIME function where expr1 is time expression

/*
Add time to time value and return. Returned value is 
accurate up to microsecond - one thousandth of a millisecond.
*/
SELECT ADDTIME('16:00:00.567', '02:00:00.123');

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using ADDTIME function where expr1 is time expression

Practice #3: Using ADDTIME function where expr1 is datetime expression

-- Add time to date and time value
SELECT ADDTIME('2008-05-22 23:59:59.999999', '1:1:1.000002');

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using ADDTIME function where expr1 is datetime expression

Practice #3-1: Using CONVERT_TZ function with named time zone

/*
Convert the given date and time from GMT time
to Europe/Moscow time.
*/
SELECT CONVERT_TZ('2004-01-01 12:00:00','GMT','Europe/Moscow');

To use named time zones such as 'MET' or 'Europe/Moscow', the time zone tables must be properly set up in the system database mysql. Refer to article How to load time zone data for MySQL on Windows for more information.

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Convert time zone by using CONVERT_TZ mysql function with named time zone

Practice #3-2: Using CONVERT_TZ function with values of offset from UTC

/*
Convert the given date and time value from
time zone GMT+07:00 to time zone GMT+08:00 
*/
SELECT CONVERT_TZ('2005-06-06 2:00:00','+7:00','+8:00');

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Convert time zone by using CONVERT_TZ mysql function with values of offset from UTC

Practice #3-3: Using CONVERT_TZ function with values falling out of supported range for UTC timestamp

/*
The given date and time value falls out of 
the supported range of the TIMESTAMP type, 
no conversion occurs.
 
In this example, 1969-02-23 12:00:00 falls 
out of UTC timestamp range which is 
'1970-01-01 00:00:01' UTC to the year 2038.
*/
SELECT CONVERT_TZ('1969-02-23 12:00:00','GMT','Europe/Moscow');

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using CONVERT_TZ function with values falling out of supported range for UTC timestamp

For detailed information about timestamp, read this article How to use Date and Time data as integer value in PHP and MySQL.

Practice #4-1: Using CURDATE function and return current date in YYYY-MM-DD format

/*
Use CURDATE in string context and return 
current date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
*/
SELECT CURDATE();

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using CURDATE function and return current date in YYYY-MM-DD format

Practice #4-2: Using CURDATE function and return date in YYYYMMDD format

/*
Use CURDATE in numeric context and 
return current date in YYYYMMDD format.
*/
SELECT CURDATE() + 5;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using CURDATE function and return date in YYYYMMDD format

Practice #8-1: Using CURTIME function and return current time in HH:MM:SS format

/*
Use CURTIME in string context and return 
current date in HH:MM:SS format.
*/
SELECT CURTIME();

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using CURTIME function and return current time in HH:MM:SS format

Practice #8-2: Using CURTIME function and return current time in HHMMSS.uuuuuu format

/*
Use CURTIME in string context and return 
current date in HHMMSS.uuuuuu format.
*/
SELECT CURTIME() + 0;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using CURTIME function and return current time in HHMMSS.uuuuuu format

Practice #9-1: Using DATE_ADD function for MICROSECOND interval

-- Add 1 microsecond
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL 1 MICROSECOND) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for MICROSECOND interval

Practice #9-2: Using DATE_ADD function for SECOND interval

-- Add 1 second
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL 1 SECOND) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for SECOND interval

Practice #9-3: Using DATE_ADD function for MINUTE interval

-- Add 12 minutes
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL 12 MINUTE) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for MINUTE interval

Practice #9-4: Using DATE_ADD function for HOUR interval

-- Add 3 hours
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL 3 HOUR) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for HOUR interval

Practice #9-5: Using DATE_ADD function for DAY interval

-- Add 5 days
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL 5 DAY) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for DAY interval

Practice #9-6: Using DATE_ADD function for WEEK interval

-- Add 5 weeks
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL 5 WEEK) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for WEEK interval

Practice #9-7: Using DATE_ADD function for MONTH interval

-- Add 5 months
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL 5 MONTH) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for MONTH interval

Practice #9-8: Using DATE_ADD function for QUARTER interval

-- Add 2 quarters
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL 2 QUARTER) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for QUARTER interval

Practice #9-9: Using DATE_ADD function for YEAR interval

-- Add 3 years
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL 3 YEAR) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for YEAR interval

Practice #9-10: Using DATE_ADD function for SECOND_MICROSECOND interval

-- Add 1 second and 123 microseconds 
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '1.000123' SECOND_MICROSECOND) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for SECOND_MICROSECOND interval

Practice #9-11: Using DATE_ADD function for MINUTE_MICROSECOND interval

-- Add 1 minute, 1 second, and 123 microseconds 
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '1.1.000123' MINUTE_MICROSECOND) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for MINUTE_MICROSECOND interval

Practice #9-12: Using DATE_ADD function for MINUTE_SECOND interval

-- Add 1 minute and 15 seconds 
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '1:15' MINUTE_SECOND) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for MINUTE_SECOND interval

Practice #9-13: Using DATE_ADD function for HOUR_MICROSECOND interval

-- Add 1 hour, 1 minute, 1 second, and 123 microseconds 
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '1.1.1.000123' HOUR_MICROSECOND) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for HOUR_MICROSECOND interval

Practice #9-14: Using DATE_ADD function for HOUR_SECOND interval

-- Add 5 hours, 21 minutes, and 58 seconds
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '5:21:58' HOUR_SECOND) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for HOUR_SECOND interval

Practice #9-15: Using DATE_ADD function for HOUR_MINUTE interval

-- Add 5 hours, 21 minutes
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '5:21' HOUR_MINUTE) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for HOUR_MINUTE interval

Practice #9-16: Using DATE_ADD function for DAY_MICROSECOND interval

-- Add 1 day, 1 hour, 1 minute, 1 second, and 123 microseconds
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '1.1.1.1.000123' DAY_MICROSECOND) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for DAY_MICROSECOND interval

Practice #9-17: Using DATE_ADD function for DAY_SECOND interval

-- Add 1 day, 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 27 seconds 
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '1 2:05:27' DAY_SECOND) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for DAY_SECOND interval

Practice #9-18: Using DATE_ADD function for DAY_MINUTE interval

-- Add 1 day, 2 hours, and 5 minutes 
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '1 2:05' DAY_MINUTE) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for DAY_MINUTE interval

Practice #9-19: Using DATE_ADD function for DAY_HOUR interval

-- Add 1 day and 2 hours
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '1 2' DAY_HOUR) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for DAY_HOUR interval

Practice #9-20: Using DATE_ADD function for YEAR_MONTH interval

-- Add 1 year and 5 months 
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '1 5' YEAR_MONTH) AS new_date;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function for YEAR_MONTH interval

Practice #9-21: Using DATE_ADD function where it does not include all the interval parts

/*
Query 2,3, and 4 return the same result as Query 1. This 
is because the query does not include all the interval 
parts that would be expected from the unit keyword.
 
For example, when you specify MINUTE_MICROSECOND in Query 2, 
the value of expr is expected to have minutes, seconds, 
and microseconds part. Because you specify a value '1.000123', 
MySQL assumes that the minutes part is missing and the value 
actually only represents seconds and microseconds.
 
In other words, '1.000123' MINUTE_MICROSECOND is interpreted in 
such a way that it is equivalent to '1.000123' SECOND_MICROSECOND. 
*/
 
-- Query 1
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '1.000123' SECOND_MICROSECOND) AS new_date;
 
-- Query 2
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '1.000123' MINUTE_MICROSECOND) AS new_date;
 
-- Query 3
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '1.000123' HOUR_MICROSECOND) AS new_date;
 
-- Query 4
SELECT DATE_ADD('1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002', 
    INTERVAL '1.000123' DAY_MICROSECOND) AS new_date;

All four queries return the same result set - 1 row returned:
Using DATE_ADD function where it does not include all the interval parts

Practice #9-22: Using + operator to add date

-- Add 1 second by using + operator
SELECT '1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002' 
    + INTERVAL 1 SECOND AS new_result;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using + operator to add date

Practice #9-23: Using - operator to add date

-- Minus 1 second by using - operator
SELECT '1992-12-31 23:59:59.000002' 
    - INTERVAL 1 SECOND AS new_result;

Query result set - 1 row returned:
Using - operator to add date

Other tutorials in this category

1. Using String Functions, Part 1

2. Using String Functions, Part 2

3. Using String Functions, Part 3

4. Using MySQL Date and Time Functions, Part 2

5. Using MySQL Date and Time Functions, Part 3

6. Using MySQL Control Flow Functions

7. Using MySQL Conversion Functions

8. Using MySQL Comparison Functions

9. Using Aggregate Functions in MySQL

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