TIMESTAMPDIFF()
TIMESTAMPDIFF() is a SQL function in the Date/Time Functions category. Returns the difference between two datetimes in the specified unit. MySQL-specific. The syntax is TIMESTAMPDIFF(unit, datetime1, datetime2). It accepts unit, datetime1, datetime2. It returns integer difference. A typical example: SELECT TIMESTAMPDIFF(DAY, hire_date, NOW()) FROM employees; -- Days since hired SELECT TIMESTAMPDIFF(YEAR, hire_date, NOW()) FROM employees; -- Years since hired A close relative is NOW(), which returns the current date and time as a timestamp. A close relative is CURDATE(), which returns the current date without time. A close relative is DATE(), which extracts the date part from a datetime expression. More about this category: Date and time functions — NOW, DATE, EXTRACT, DATEDIFF, DATE_ADD, DATE_FORMAT. Related Date/Time Functions entries: NOW(), CURDATE(), DATE(), EXTRACT(), DATE_ADD(), DATE_SUB(), DATEDIFF(), DATE_FORMAT(). This page is part of the free SQL Reference documentation covering 762+ statements, functions, and clauses, each with syntax, parameters, return values, and examples for MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, and SQLite.