The MySQL DATEDIFF function is a useful tool for calculating the difference between two dates. It returns the difference in days between two date values, allowing you to determine the gap between them.

Syntax

The syntax for the DATEDIFF function is as follows:

DATEDIFF(date1, date2)

Here, date1 and date2 are the two date values you want to compare. The result is an integer representing the number of days between the two dates, with a positive value indicating that date1 is later than date2, and a negative value indicating the opposite.

Example

Let’s look at a simple example:

SELECT DATEDIFF('2024-01-01', '2023-12-25') AS DateDifference;

In this case, the function calculates the difference between January 1, 2024, and December 25, 2023, resulting in a positive value representing the number of days between these two dates.

You can also use the DATEDIFF function in conjunction with other date-related functions or expressions to perform more complex calculations. For instance, you might use it in combination with the CURDATE function to find the difference between the current date and a specific date in a table:

SELECT DATEDIFF(CURDATE(), order_date) AS DaysSinceOrder
FROM orders;

In this example, the query calculates the difference in days between the current date and the order_date column in the “orders” table, providing valuable insights into how many days have passed since each order was placed.

It’s important to note that the DATEDIFF function only considers the date portion of the input values and does not include the time component. If you need to calculate the difference in hours, minutes, or seconds as well, you might want to explore other date and time functions provided by MySQL, such as TIMESTAMPDIFF.