MySQL in a Nutshell

Name

DATE_SUB( )

Synopsis

DATE_SUB(date, INTERVAL value type)

Use this function to subtract from the results of a date or time datatype column. See DATE_ADD( ) for a table of incremental types.

SELECT DATE_SUB(NOW( ), INTERVAL 1 DAY)
       AS Yesterday;
+---------------------+
| Yesterday           |
+---------------------+
| 2004-05-08 07:05:08 |
+---------------------+

This statement was entered on the morning of May 9, a little after 7 a.m. Notice that the time remains unchanged, but the date was reduced by one day. By placing a negative sign in front of the value the reverse effect would occur, giving a result of May 10 in this example. Whatever intervals that can be used with DATE_ADD() can be used with DATE_SUB( ).