date functions

Using the AGE() Function to Compare Dates in DuckDB

March 19, 2025 by Ian

When working with date and time data in DuckDB, calculating the difference between two dates is a common requirement. Whether we’re determining a person’s age from their birthdate or measuring the duration between two events, DuckDB’s age() function provides a straightforward solution. This function returns an interval representing the difference between two timestamps or dates, making it especially useful for time-based analyses.

In this article, we’ll explore how to use the age() function in DuckDB. We’ll cover its syntax, and provide some simple examples.

The Difference Between AGE() and DATE_DIFF() in DuckDB

March 13, 2025 by Ian

Both AGE() and DATE_DIFF() are DuckDB functions used to calculate time differences, but they serve distinct purposes and exhibit different behaviors that are important to understand when working with temporal data.

This article explores the difference between these two functions.

Using MAKE_DATE() to Construct a Date in DuckDB

May 7, 2025March 12, 2025 by Ian

In DuckDB, the make_date() function enables us to create date values from individual year, month, and day components. This function is particularly useful when working with data that stores date components separately or when constructing date values programmatically.

Formatting Dates with STRFTIME() in DuckDB

March 5, 2025 by Ian

In DuckDB, the strftime() function is a handy tool for formatting date and timestamp values as strings. It accepts the date/timestamp value and a format string as arguments. The function then returns the date/time in the format provided by the format string.

7 Functions that Extract the Day from a Date in DuckDB

April 14, 2025February 27, 2025 by Ian

When working with dates in DuckDB, extracting specific components like the day is a common task. DuckDB provides a good range of functions that we can use to help us to perform such a task.

This article presents seven different functions we can use to extract the day from a date in DuckDB.

Understanding DATE_ADD() in DuckDB

February 14, 2025 by Ian

DuckDB has a date_add() function, which allows us to add a specified time interval to a date or timestamp. This article looks at how the date_add() function works in DuckDB, including its syntax, usage, and examples.

A Quick Look at DuckDB’s CURRENT_DATE Function

May 7, 2025February 13, 2025 by Ian

DuckDB is an in-process SQL OLAP database management system designed for analytical workloads. It is known for its speed, efficiency, and ease of use. One of the many functions DuckDB provides is current_date, which is useful for working with date-related data.

In this article, we’ll look at how the current_date function works, along with some straightforward examples.

An Overview of the DATE_SUBTRACT() Function in PostgreSQL

June 25, 2024April 22, 2024 by Ian

PostgreSQL 16 introduced the date_subtract() function that allows us to subtract an interval from a timestamp with time zone.

It computes times of day and daylight-savings adjustments according to the time zone named by the third argument, or the current TimeZone setting if that is omitted.

PostgreSQL DATE_ADD() Function Explained

June 25, 2024April 20, 2024 by Ian

PostgreSQL 16 introduced the date_add() function that allows us to add an interval to a timestamp with time zone.

It computes times of day and daylight-savings adjustments according to the time zone named by the third argument, or the current TimeZone setting if that is omitted.

Understanding the DATE_BUCKET() Function in SQL Server

December 11, 2023 by Ian

The release of SQL Server 2022 came with the introduction of the DATE_BUCKET() function.

The DATE_BUCKET() function allows us to arrange data into groups that represent fixed intervals of time. It returns the date/time value that corresponds to the start of each date/time bucket, as defined by the arguments passed to the function.