MySQL TIMEDIFF() Function
The TIMEDIFF() function in MySQL calculates the difference between two time or datetime values. This is a very useful function for working with time intervals and for performing time-based analysis or calculations within your MySQL queries.
TIMEDIFF(): Definition and Usage
TIMEDIFF() takes two time or datetime values as input and returns the difference between them as a time value (in HH:MM:SS format). The order of the arguments is important: the difference is calculated as time1 - time2. The time values should be in a consistent format. If the input is not a valid time or datetime, or if either input is `NULL`, the function returns `NULL`.
Syntax
Syntax
TIMEDIFF(time1, time2)
Parameter Values
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
time1 |
The first time or datetime value. This is required. |
time2 |
The second time or datetime value. This is required. |
Examples
Calculating the Difference Between Two Times
This example calculates the difference between two time values.
Syntax
SELECT TIMEDIFF("13:10:11", "13:10:10");
Output
00:00:01
Calculating the Difference Between Two Datetimes
This example shows calculating the difference between two datetime values. Note that only the time portion is considered.
Syntax
SELECT TIMEDIFF("2017-06-25 13:10:11", "2017-06-15 13:10:10");
Output
00:00:01