Hello Dev, welcome to this journal article on the SQL Server DateAdd function. In this article, we will be exploring everything you need to know about the function, including its syntax and usage. We will also provide you with some practical examples to help you understand how to use it in your own projects. So, let’s dive in!
What is the SQL Server DateAdd Function?
The SQL Server DateAdd function is a built-in function in SQL Server that is used to add a specific interval of time to a given date value. This interval of time can be specified in any of the following units:
Unit |
Description |
|---|---|
Year |
Adds a specified number of years to the date value |
Quarter |
Adds a specified number of quarters to the date value |
Month |
Adds a specified number of months to the date value |
Dayofyear |
Adds a specified number of days to the date value, as a day of the year (1-366) |
Day |
Adds a specified number of days to the date value |
Week |
Adds a specified number of weeks to the date value |
Hour |
Adds a specified number of hours to the date value |
Minute |
Adds a specified number of minutes to the date value |
Second |
Adds a specified number of seconds to the date value |
Millisecond |
Adds a specified number of milliseconds to the date value |
To add any of these units to a date value, you simply need to call the DateAdd function, provide the unit interval as the first argument, and specify the number of intervals you want to add as the second argument.
Syntax of the DateAdd Function
The syntax of the SQL Server DateAdd function is as follows:
DATEADD(interval, number, date)
Here’s what each of these parameters means:
- Interval: The interval of time you want to add to the date value. This can be any of the units we listed above.
- Number: The number of intervals you want to add to the date value.
- Date: The date value you want to add intervals to.
Note that the date value can be any valid date value in SQL Server, such as a datetime or smalldatetime value.
Usage and Examples of the DateAdd Function
Let’s take a look at some examples of how to use the DateAdd function in SQL Server.
Adding Years to a Date Value
To add a specified number of years to a date value, you can call the DateAdd function with the ‘year’ interval and the number of years you want to add. Here’s an example:
SELECT DATEADD(year, 5, '2021-01-01') as NewDate
This will add 5 years to the date value ‘2021-01-01’, resulting in a new date value of ‘2026-01-01’.
Adding Months to a Date Value
To add a specified number of months to a date value, you can call the DateAdd function with the ‘month’ interval and the number of months you want to add. Here’s an example:
SELECT DATEADD(month, 3, '2021-01-01') as NewDate
This will add 3 months to the date value ‘2021-01-01’, resulting in a new date value of ‘2021-04-01’.
Adding Days to a Date Value
To add a specified number of days to a date value, you can call the DateAdd function with the ‘day’ interval and the number of days you want to add. Here’s an example:
SELECT DATEADD(day, 10, '2021-01-01') as NewDate
This will add 10 days to the date value ‘2021-01-01’, resulting in a new date value of ‘2021-01-11’.
Adding Hours to a Date Value
To add a specified number of hours to a date value, you can call the DateAdd function with the ‘hour’ interval and the number of hours you want to add. Here’s an example:
SELECT DATEADD(hour, 6, '2021-01-01 12:00:00') as NewDate
This will add 6 hours to the date value ‘2021-01-01 12:00:00’, resulting in a new date value of ‘2021-01-01 18:00:00’.
Adding Minutes to a Date Value
To add a specified number of minutes to a date value, you can call the DateAdd function with the ‘minute’ interval and the number of minutes you want to add. Here’s an example:
SELECT DATEADD(minute, 30, '2021-01-01 12:00:00') as NewDate
This will add 30 minutes to the date value ‘2021-01-01 12:00:00’, resulting in a new date value of ‘2021-01-01 12:30:00’.
Adding Seconds to a Date Value
To add a specified number of seconds to a date value, you can call the DateAdd function with the ‘second’ interval and the number of seconds you want to add. Here’s an example:
SELECT DATEADD(second, 45, '2021-01-01 12:00:00') as NewDate
This will add 45 seconds to the date value ‘2021-01-01 12:00:00’, resulting in a new date value of ‘2021-01-01 12:00:45’.
Adding Milliseconds to a Date Value
To add a specified number of milliseconds to a date value, you can call the DateAdd function with the ‘millisecond’ interval and the number of milliseconds you want to add. Here’s an example:
SELECT DATEADD(millisecond, 500, '2021-01-01 12:00:00.000') as NewDate
This will add 500 milliseconds to the date value ‘2021-01-01 12:00:00.000’, resulting in a new date value of ‘2021-01-01 12:00:00.500’.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the DateAdd function used for in SQL Server?
The DateAdd function in SQL Server is used to add a specific interval of time to a given date value. This can be useful in a variety of scenarios, such as calculating future or past dates, or performing date-based calculations in your queries.
What are the units that can be used with the DateAdd function in SQL Server?
The DateAdd function in SQL Server supports the following units: Year, Quarter, Month, Dayofyear, Day, Week, Hour, Minute, Second, Millisecond.
Can the DateAdd function be used to subtract time intervals from a date value?
Yes, the DateAdd function can be used to subtract time intervals from a date value. To do this, you simply need to provide a negative number as the second argument. For example, to subtract 5 years from a date value, you would call the function like this:
SELECT DATEADD(year, -5, '2021-01-01') as NewDate
This will subtract 5 years from the date value ‘2021-01-01’, resulting in a new date value of ‘2016-01-01’.
What happens if an invalid interval unit is provided to the DateAdd function?
If an invalid interval unit is provided to the DateAdd function, an error will be thrown. It’s important to ensure that you are using a valid interval unit when calling the function.
Can the DateAdd function be used with datetimeoffset values in SQL Server?
Yes, the DateAdd function can be used with datetimeoffset values in SQL Server. However, it’s important to ensure that you are using the correct interval units for the time zone offset of the values you are working with.
Are there any limitations to the DateAdd function in SQL Server?
There are no major limitations to the DateAdd function in SQL Server. However, it’s important to ensure that you are using the correct interval units and that you are working with valid date values in your queries.
Conclusion
That’s all we have for you today, Dev! We hope that this journal article has provided you with a solid understanding of the SQL Server DateAdd function, including its syntax and usage. Feel free to experiment with the function in your own projects, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions. Happy coding!