How to Get Yesterday's Date in MySQL

Retrieving yesterday’s date in MySQL requires you to use the CURDATE() or NOW() functions combined with the INTERVAL keyword. This guide will show you how to calculate and manipulate dates in MySQL, focusing on obtaining yesterday’s date in different formats.

Understanding date functions in MySQL

MySQL provides several functions for date and time operations. The two commonly used for getting the current date are CURDATE() and NOW(). CURDATE() returns the current date without time, while NOW() returns both date and time.

Example: Current date and time

SELECT CURDATE() as CurrentDate, NOW() as CurrentDateTime;

Getting yesterday’s date

To get yesterday’s date, subtract one day from the current date. Use the INTERVAL keyword with CURDATE() or NOW().

Example: Yesterday’s date

SELECT CURDATE() - INTERVAL 1 DAY as YesterdayDate;

Formatting yesterday’s date

MySQL’s DATE_FORMAT() function allows formatting the date output. For instance, to get yesterday’s date in a specific format, combine DATE_FORMAT() with the date calculation.

Example: Formatted yesterday’s date

SELECT DATE_FORMAT(CURDATE() - INTERVAL 1 DAY, '%Y-%m-%d') as FormattedYesterdayDate;

Use cases in queries

Retrieving records based on yesterday’s date is a common use case. For example, to find all entries from a logs table that occurred yesterday:

Example: Filtering data by yesterday’s date

SELECT *
FROM logs
WHERE DATE(log_date) = CURDATE() - INTERVAL 1 DAY;

Working with time zones

When working with time zones, use CONVERT_TZ() in conjunction with date functions. This ensures the date calculations respect the desired time zone.

Example: Yesterday’s date in a specific time zone

SELECT CONVERT_TZ(CURDATE(), '+00:00', 'America/New_York') - INTERVAL 1 DAY as YesterdayDateInNY;

Conclusion

Manipulating dates in MySQL is straightforward with functions like CURDATE() and DATE_FORMAT(). Remember to consider time zones in your calculations for accurate results. This guide should help you efficiently work with dates in MySQL, particularly in retrieving and formatting yesterday’s date.