# DATE\_DIFF

Computes the difference between two timestamps.

## Syntax

```
DATE_DIFF(UNIT, TIMESTAMP1, TIMESTAMP2)
```

## Arguments

#### UNIT

Type: `string`

The unit of time to return.

It can be one of the following:

* `year`
* `quarter`
* `month`
* `week`
* `day`
* `hour`
* `minute`
* `second`
* `millisecond`

#### TIMESTAMP1

Type: `timestamp`

The time to subtract from `TIMESTAMP2`.

#### TIMESTAMP2

Type: `timestamp`

The time `TIMESTAMP1` is subtracted from.

## Returns

Type: `bigint`

`TIME2 - TIME1` expressed in terms of `UNIT`.

***

## Examples

| UNIT | TIMESTAMP1 | TIMESTAMP2 | Output |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| day | `2001-08-22 03:04:05.321` | `2001-08-23 03:04:05.321` | 1 |
| year | `2001-08-22 03:04:05.321` | `2006-08-22 03:04:05.321` | 5 |
| year | `2006-08-22 03:04:05.321'` | `2001-08-22 03:04:05.321` | -5 |
| second | `2001-08-22 03:04:05.321` | `2001-08-22 03:04:35.321` | 30 |
| quarter | `2001-08-22 03:04:05.321` | `2001-11-22 03:04:05.321` | 1 |
| quarter | `2001-08-22 03:04:05.321` | `2001-08-22 03:04:05.321` | 0 |
| year | `2001-08-22 03:04:05.321` | `null` | `null` |