[Tfug] Representing Periods of Time In MySQL?

[Paul Lemmons]

-------- Original Message  --------
Subject: [Tfug] Representing Periods of Time In MySQL?
From: "Christopher Robbins" <robbinsc at gmail.com>
To: "Tucson Free Unix Group" <tfug at tfug.org>
Date: 01/14/2008 03:15 PM
> I've been doing some database work for awhile now,
> but I always wondered - is there any "good" or "best" way
> to represent periods of time in MySQL?
>
> I've used a start time (TIME) and an end time (TIME) to do
> so, but I'm beginning to wonder if there's an easier and better
> way?
>
> Thoughts/input are greatly appreciated...
>
>     - Chris
>
>   
It depends almost completely on how your application uses times. 
Generally speaking, you choose database formats to simplify your coding. 
If all you are doing is displaying a start and stop time the way you are 
doing it is probably the best way. If you are going to display 
information like duration (i.e. 1/14/2008 at 3:25pm for 4 hours) then 
storing a start time with a length of time may be more appropriate. If 
you are only dealing with durations then I would not use the Time data 
format at all.

MySql makes the math of working with dates and times so easy, though a 
fairly strong argument could be made for just simply storying start and 
stop times and figuring out duration.

I think the "best" way to do it is the way that you like to do it the 
"best" and works :)

-- 
Sometimes I wonder.  Were our faith able to stand upright and look around, would it be looking down at the mustard seed or standing in awe of the height and breadth of it.