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In this guide, we will explain how to use the MySQL TIMEDIFF function with syntax and examples.

Description

The MySQL TIMEDIFF function returns the difference (expressed as a time value) between two time/datetime values.

Syntax

The syntax for the TIMEDIFF function is:

TIMEDIFF( time1, time2 )

Parameters or Arguments

time1 and time2

The two time/datetime to calculate the difference between. The calculation is time1 - time2.

Note

• A time value can range from -838:59:59′ to ‘838:59:59’.
• When using the TIMEDIFF function, both time1 and time2 must be both time values, or both datetime values. You can not have one be a time value and the other be a datetime value, or the TIMEDIFF function will return a NULL value.

Applies To

The TIMEDIFF function can be used in the following versions :

• MySQL 5.7, MySQL 5.6, MySQL 5.5, MySQL 5.1, MySQL 5.0, MySQL 4.1.1

Example

Let’s look at some TIMEDIFF function examples and explore how to use the TIMEDIFF function.

For example:

mysql> SELECT TIMEDIFF('2014-02-17 12:10:08', '2014-02-17 12:10:07');
Result: '00:00:01'

mysql> SELECT TIMEDIFF('12:10:08', '12:10:07');
Result: '00:00:01'

mysql> SELECT TIMEDIFF('11:41:14', '12:10:08');
Result: '-00:28:54'

mysql> SELECT TIMEDIFF('2014-02-17 12:10:08', '2014-02-16 12:10:08');
Result: '24:00:00'

mysql> SELECT TIMEDIFF('2014-02-17 12:10:08', '12:10:08');
Result: NULL

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