MySQL DATE_SUB Function

The MySQL DATE_SUB function subtracts a custom time interval from a date.

Employees Table

In this example, we want to determine the year before an employee is scheduled to retire.

Syntax

DATE_SUB(date,INTERVAL interval format)

Formats

• MICROSECOND
• SECOND
• MINUTE
• HOUR
• DAY
• WEEK
• MONTH
• QUARTER
• YEAR
• SECOND_MICROSECOND
• MINUTE_MICROSECOND
• MINUTE_SECOND
• HOUR_MICROSECOND
• HOUR_SECOND
• HOUR_MINUTE
• DAY_MICROSECOND
• DAY_SECOND
• DAY_MINUTE
• DAY_HOUR
• YEAR_MONTH

Example

SELECT employeeName as [Employee Name], DATE_SUB(retirementDate INTERVAL 1 YEAR) as [Eligible for Early Retirement]
FROM employees

Results