Date Functions — Complete Guide
Date Functions — Complete Guide: free step-by-step lesson with examples, common mistakes, and interview tips — part of MySQL Tutorial on Toolliyo Academy.
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MySQL Tutorial · Lesson 33 of 100
Date Functions
Basics ✓ → Advanced
Advanced · 2 — Production · ~6 min · MySQL — Functions & Window Functions
What is this?
Date functions parse and format temporal data: CURDATE(), NOW(), DATE_FORMAT, DATEDIFF, DATE_ADD, EXTRACT. Store instants in TIMESTAMP/DATETIME, calendar days in DATE.
Why should you care?
Subscription renewals and EMI due dates depend on “add 30 days” logic — wrong timezone math causes failed UPI pulls.
See it live — copy this example
Run in MySQL Workbench or the mysql CLI.
SELECT order_id,
DATE_FORMAT(placed_at, '%d-%b-%Y') AS placed_label,
DATEDIFF(CURDATE(), DATE(placed_at)) AS days_ago
FROM orders
WHERE placed_at >= DATE_SUB(CURDATE(), INTERVAL 7 DAY);What happened?
- DATE_FORMAT prints human-readable dates.
- DATEDIFF counts days since order.
- WHERE keeps last 7 days using DATE_SUB on CURDATE().
Practice next
- Ensure orders.placed_at DATETIME populated.
- Run query; discuss server timezone.
- Try DATE_ADD for +15 day return window.
- GROUP BY DATE(placed_at) for daily order counts.
- EXTRACT(MONTH FROM placed_at) for seasonality.
Remember
Use DATE_SUB/ADD for ranges. DATE_FORMAT for reports. Align session time_zone with India ops.
DataFlow weekly report
Cron job emails orders where DATEDIFF <= 7 for ops standup.
Outcome: Team reviews fresh volume every Monday.
Interview prep for this lesson
Practice these questions aloud after reading—each links to a full structured answer.
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