How to Efficiently Calculate the Time Difference Between Timestamps in MySQL?

Determining the Temporal Differential Between Timestamps in MySQL

Calculating the time difference between two timestamps in MySQL can be achieved through various techniques. One method involves utilizing the TIMEDIFF() and TIME_TO_SEC() functions. By combining them, you can obtain the result in seconds:

SELECT TIME_TO_SEC(TIMEDIFF('2010-08-20 12:01:00', '2010-08-20 12:00:00')) AS diff;

Another alternative employs the UNIX_TIMESTAMP() function:

SELECT UNIX_TIMESTAMP('2010-08-20 12:01:00') - UNIX_TIMESTAMP('2010-08-20 12:00:00') AS diff;

If working with the TIMESTAMP data type, the UNIX_TIMESTAMP() approach may prove more efficient as it directly returns the internal timestamp value. However, it's important to note that the TIMEDIFF() function returns values within the range of '-838:59:59' to '838:59:59' (approximately 34.96 days).

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