> This page location: Date Functions > MAKE_INTERVAL > Full Neon documentation index: https://neon.com/docs/llms.txt # PostgreSQL MAKE_INTERVAL() Function **Summary**: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the PostgreSQL `MAKE_INTERVAL()` function to create an interval from the interval's components ## Introduction to the PostgreSQL MAKE_INTERVAL() function The `MAKE_INTERVAL()` function allows you to create an [interval](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-interval) from years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds. Here's the syntax of the `MAKE_INTERVAL()` function: ```sql MAKE_INTERVAL ( [ years int [, months int [, weeks int [, days int [, hours int [, mins int [, secs double precision ]]]]]]] ) → interval ``` In this syntax: - `years` is an integer representing the number of years. - `months` is an integer representing the number of months. - `weeks` is an integer representing the number of weeks. - `days` is an integer representing the number of days. - `hours` is an integer representing the number of hours. - `mins` is an integer representing the number of minutes. - `secs` is a double-precision number representing the number of seconds. All of these parameters are optional and default to zero. The `MAKE_INTERVAL()` function returns a value of interval type. Besides the `MAKE_INTERVAL()` function, you can use the `INTERVAL` literal syntax to create an interval: ```sql INTERVAL 'X years Y months Z days W hours V minutes U seconds' ``` The `INTERVAL` literal syntax allows you to create an interval by specifying all components in a single string. It is suitable for creating static or predefined intervals. On the other hand, the `MAKE_INTERVAL()` function offers the flexibility to specify each component separately and is ideal for creating an interval dynamically. For example, you can use the `MAKE_INTERVAL()` function to create an interval from values stored in a table. ## PostgreSQL MAKE_INTERVAL() function examples Let's explore some examples of using the `MAKE_INTERVAL()` function. ### 1) Basic MAKE_INTERVAL() function example The following example uses the `MAKE_INTERVAL()` function to create an interval that represents 1 year, 2 months, 3 days, and 4 hours: ```sql SELECT MAKE_INTERVAL( years => 3, months => 6, days => 15, hours => 4 ); ``` Output: ```text make_interval --------------------------------- 3 years 6 mons 15 days 04:00:00 (1 row) ``` ### 2) Using the MAKE_INTERVAL() function with default values All of the parameters of the `MAKE_INTERVAL()` function are optional and default to zero. For example, the following statement creates an interval zero: ```sql SELECT MAKE_INTERVAL(); ``` Output: ```text make_interval --------------- 00:00:00 (1 row) ``` ### 3) Using the MAKE_INTERVAL( ) function with table data First, [create a new table](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-create-table) called `time_data`: ```sql CREATE TABLE time_data ( id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY, year INTEGER, month INTEGER, day INTEGER, hour INTEGER, minute INTEGER, second INTEGER ); ``` Second, [insert some rows](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-insert-multiple-rows) into the time_data table: ```sql INSERT INTO time_data (year, month, day, hour, minute, second) VALUES (1, 3, 25, 10, 0, 0), (2, 2, 25, 11, 30, 0), (3, 1, 25, 13, 15, 0) RETURNING *; ``` Output: ```text id | year | month | day | hour | minute | second ----+------+-------+-----+------+--------+-------- 1 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 10 | 0 | 0 2 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 11 | 30 | 0 3 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 13 | 15 | 0 (3 rows) ``` Third, use the `MAKE_INTERVAL()` function to create intervals from the data stored in the `time_data` table: ```sql SELECT MAKE_INTERVAL( year, month, 0, day, hour, minute, second ) AS interval_data FROM time_data; ``` Output: ``` interval_data --------------------------------- 1 year 3 mons 25 days 10:00:00 2 years 2 mons 25 days 11:30:00 3 years 1 mon 25 days 13:15:00 (3 rows) ``` ## Summary - Use the `MAKE_INTERVAL()` function to construct an interval from the provided components, such as years, months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds. --- ## Related docs (Date Functions) - [AGE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-age) - [AT TIME ZONE Operator](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-at-time-zone) - [CLOCK_TIMESTAMP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-clock_timestamp) - [CURRENT_DATE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-current_date) - [CURRENT_TIME](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-current_time) - [CURRENT_TIMESTAMP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-current_timestamp) - [DATE_PART](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-date_part) - [DATE_TRUNC](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-date_trunc) - [EXTRACT](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-extract) - [ISFINITE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-isfinite) - [JUSTIFY_DAYS](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-justify_days) - [JUSTIFY_HOURS](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-justify_hours) - [JUSTIFY_INTERVAL](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-justify_interval) - [LOCALTIME](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-localtime) - [LOCALTIMESTAMP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-localtimestamp) - [MAKE_DATE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-make_date) - [MAKE_TIME](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-make_time) - [NOW](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-now) - [PG_SLEEP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-pg_sleep) - [STATEMENT_TIMESTAMP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-statement_timestamp) - [TIMEOFDAY](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-timeofday) - [TO_DATE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-to_date) - [TO_TIMESTAMP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-date-functions/postgresql-to_timestamp)