How to display seconds as time values in MySQL

Using the SEC_TO_TIME() Function

Running a successful database system involves a multitude of complex tasks, one of which is converting seconds into time values to store, manipulate, and express them in a more user-friendly manner. MySQL, a popular relational database management system, offers several functions to simplify this process and display seconds in a standard time format. The SEC_TO_TIME() function is one such method, allowing users to transform an integer or expression into an HH:MM:SS time value.

In this article, we will explore how to use this function to display seconds as time values in MySQL.

The Argument of SEC_TO_TIME() Function

The SEC_TO_TIME() function converts an integer or expression into an HH:MM:SS time value, as previously stated. This function can either accept an integer value as an argument or an expression that produces an integer result.

The integer value argument represents the number of seconds that need to be converted into a time value. On the other hand, the expressions that produce integer results can be combined into more complex queries to obtain seconds, which are then transformed using the SEC_TO_TIME() function.

For example, consider the following query to retrieve the total duration of a task by combining two columns, duration_minutes, and duration_seconds. The query calculates the total duration of the task and then applies the SEC_TO_TIME() function to acquire a time value.

SELECT SEC_TO_TIME((duration_minutes * 60) + duration_seconds) AS duration FROM task;

In this example, we have combined two columns to obtain an expression that results in an integer valued query that is then applied to the SEC_TO_TIME() function.

Time Format of SEC_TO_TIME() Function

The SEC_TO_TIME() function returns an HH:MM:SS formatted time value and can accommodate a broad range of hours, minutes, and seconds. The function converts the provided integer or expression into an HH:MM:SS format by reformatting integers based on the time unit.

For example:

• Hour value is calculated from dividing seconds by 3600
• Minute value is calculated from dividing seconds by 60
• The remaining value when all the hours and minutes are removed is the second value. For example, imagine we have 10,000 seconds.

Dividing by the number of seconds by 3600 results in 2 hours; the number of seconds between 2 hours and the remaining seconds is 2800. Dividing that by 60 results in 46, which means that there are 46 minutes in that 2-hour span, and there are still 40 seconds remaining.

Therefore, 10,000 seconds can be represented as 02:46:40 in HH:MM:SS format.

Query Example with athlete_score Table

In this example, we demonstrate the utilization of the SEC_TO_TIME() function by retrieving the records from the athlete_score table. The table contains the first name, last name, and the score in seconds.

First, we select the columns that we need using the SELECT statement. From the athlete_score table, we want to retrieve the first name, last name, and seconds.

SELECT first_name, last_name, score_seconds FROM athlete_score;

Next, we will transform the seconds using the SEC_TO_TIME() function. We will also alias the resulting output as “score.” This alias helps keep the column name concise.

SELECT first_name, last_name, SEC_TO_TIME(score_seconds) AS score FROM athlete_score;

The resulting output will be displayed in the HH:MM:SS format.

Example Calculation and Result

In this section, we will take a closer look at a specific example to demonstrate the calculation and result of the SEC_TO_TIME() function. Let’s consider the case of Emily Watson, one of the athletes from the athlete_score table.

Suppose Emily completed a game in 894 seconds. To transform Emily’s score of 894 seconds into a time value, we can use the SEC_TO_TIME() function in a query:

SELECT SEC_TO_TIME(894) AS score_time;

This query applies the SEC_TO_TIME() function to the integer value of 894, resulting in a time value output in HH:MM:SS format.

Upon execution, the following output will be produced.

This output shows that Emily’s score of 894 seconds has now been displayed in a more user-friendly format as 00:14:54.

As this example shows, applying the SEC_TO_TIME() function to seconds values can make them more readable and useful in a variety of scenarios.

Result of Query for all Athletes

Now that we understand how the SEC_TO_TIME() function is used in simple queries, let’s try exploring how it can be used in a query that involves multiple tables and multiple columns. Suppose we have two separate tables in our database, athlete and athlete_score.

The former contains the athlete’s ID, first name, and last name, while the latter table contains the athlete’s ID and their corresponding score in seconds.

For instance, consider the following athlete table.

And the corresponding athlete_score table,

We can now use these tables to generate a query that retrieves the first name, last name, and score time (in HH:MM:SS format) for each athlete in the database.

SELECT athlete.first_name, athlete.last_name, SEC_TO_TIME(athlete_score.score_seconds) AS score_time FROM athlete INNER JOIN athlete_score ON athlete.ID = athlete_score.athlete_id;

This query retrieves the first name and last name columns from the athlete table and the score_seconds column from the athlete_score table. The SEC_TO_TIME() function is applied to the score_seconds column to transform the score values into HH:MM:SS format.

The query uses INNER JOIN to combine the two tables based on the athlete’s ID, producing a comprehensive result set that displays each athlete’s first name, last name, and score time. Upon execution of the query, the following result will be produced.

This result set displays each athlete’s first name, last name, and their score time in HH:MM:SS format, providing a more user-friendly output that is easy to read.

Conclusion

The SEC_TO_TIME() function in MySQL is a valuable tool for displaying seconds as time values in a more user-friendly format. Using this function, users can transform integer values or expressions into HH:MM:SS formatted time values, making them more readable and practical for a variety of applications.

In this article, we explored how the SEC_TO_TIME() function can be used in queries involving one or multiple tables to retrieve first name, last name, and score time. We also demonstrated specific examples to show how this function works and how to apply it in real-time scenarios.

By using the SEC_TO_TIME() function in MySQL, users can efficiently manipulate, store, and express time values in a way that is simple to understand and applicable in many scenarios.

In conclusion, the SEC_TO_TIME() function in MySQL is an essential tool for manipulating and displaying seconds as time values in a more user-friendly format.

By using this function, database administrators can retrieve, store, and display various time values in the HH:MM:SS format, making them more readable and practical for a variety of applications. From complex queries involving multiple tables to simple calculations, the SEC_TO_TIME() function streamlines the process of displaying time values in an organized and easy-to-understand way.

It is an invaluable tool for anyone working with MySQL databases, and mastering its use can be an important asset in any career.