> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/datediff.md).

# DateDiff

Returns the numeric difference in the requested date part between two dates

## Method Signature

```
DateDiff(datepart=[string], date1=[any], date2=[any])
```

### Arguments

| Argument   | Type     | Required | Description                             | Default |
| ---------- | -------- | -------- | --------------------------------------- | ------- |
| `datepart` | `string` | `true`   |                                         |         |
| `date1`    | `any`    | `true`   | The reference date object               |         |
| `date2`    | `any`    | `true`   | The date which to compare against date1 |         |

## Examples

### dateDiff Example

Find the difference between two dates.

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJxLSSxJdclMS9NQUEpR0lFQMjIwNNY1MNQ1NEXmGZkqKWhacwEA%2FP0JhQ%3D%3D)

```java
dateDiff( "d", "2013-01-15", "2013-01-25" );

```

Result: 10

### How old are they?

Calculates a persons age based on a variable birthDate which contains a date. Uses the now function to get current date.

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJxLyiwqyXBJLElVsFVILkoFMkAcDQVDS3MjHQVTHQUjAwVNa67EdJCCFJB0ZlqahoJSJRAo6SgkwbTrKOTll2togtSWF2WWpOaXlhSUlmgogDQCxQBb5x9R)

```java
birthDate = createDate( 1972, 5, 20 );
age = dateDiff( "yyyy", birthDate, now() );
writeoutput( age );

```

### dateDiff member function

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJw9jEsKg0AQRPeeonA1wiTiOrgICa6EnEHSLQ6EnjDTjdf3g7oqePWqlLO%2BB2W0kDi76lFQGMeD0BpPIoeSSo%2FGQ0979eYUlD%2Bmf1N3FfdtffjXUbXpqGvoFDISqyXJaBAFvX2ZPQYh3Hbwij%2FqLIcoxQLZ7DCY)

```java
testDate = now();
diffDate = dateAdd( "d", 1, testDate );
writeOutput( testDate.diff( "d", diffDate ) );
```

### Additional Examples

[Run Example](https://try.boxlang.io/?code=eJxLTc7I11BwSSxJdclMS9NQUEpR0lFQMjIwNNM1MNM1MkfhWSgpaCqoKSjZJBXZAZnWCvr6CoZcqaQYYY7FCAPSjDDDYoQuFmdkoJqhYGBgBUbowoZQYaL8RqyhBjgNxeJbDEMNSTUUm%2F%2FLUwi61RxPAHCBzDUy4gIAgmpzzQ%3D%3D)

```java
echo( DateDiff( "d", "2016-06-27", "2016-06-28" ) & "<br>" ); // 1
echo( DateDiff( "d", "2016-06-27", "2016-06-27" ) & "<br>" ); // 0
echo( DateDiff( "d", "2016-06-27", "2016-06-26" ) & "<br>" ); // -1
echo( DateDiff( "h", "2016-06-27 00:00:00", "2016-06-27 01:00:00" ) & "<br>" ); // 1
echo( DateDiff( "h", "2016-06-27 00:00:00", "2016-06-27 00:00:00" ) & "<br>" ); // 0
echo( DateDiff( "h", "2016-06-27 01:00:00", "2016-06-27 00:00:00" ) & "<br>" ); // -1
echo( DateDiff( "wd", "2016-06-27 00:00:00", "2016-07-27 01:00:00" ) & "<br>" );
 // 22

```

## Related

* [ClearTimezone](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/cleartimezone.md)
* [CreateDate](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/createdate.md)
* [CreateDateTime](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/createdatetime.md)
* [CreateODBCDate](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/createodbcdate.md)
* [CreateODBCDateTime](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/createodbcdatetime.md)
* [CreateODBCTime](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/createodbctime.md)
* [CreateTime](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/createtime.md)
* [CreateTimeSpan](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/createtimespan.md)
* [DateAdd](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/dateadd.md)
* [DateCompare](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/datecompare.md)
* [DateConvert](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/dateconvert.md)
* [DateFormat](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/dateformat.md)
* [DatePart](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/datepart.md)
* [DateTimeFormat](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/datetimeformat.md)
* [Day](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/day.md)
* [DayOfWeek](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/dayofweek.md)
* [DayOfWeekAsString](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/dayofweekasstring.md)
* [DayOfWeekShortAsString](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/dayofweekshortasstring.md)
* [DayOfYear](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/dayofyear.md)
* [DaysInMonth](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/daysinmonth.md)
* [DaysInYear](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/daysinyear.md)
* [FirstDayOfMonth](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/firstdayofmonth.md)
* [GetNumericDate](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/getnumericdate.md)
* [GetTime](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/gettime.md)
* [GetTimezone](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/gettimezone.md)
* [GetTimezoneInfo](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/gettimezoneinfo.md)
* [Hour](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/hour.md)
* [Millisecond](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/millisecond.md)
* [Minute](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/minute.md)
* [Month](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/month.md)
* [MonthAsString](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/monthasstring.md)
* [MonthShortAsString](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/monthshortasstring.md)
* [Nanosecond](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/nanosecond.md)
* [Now](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/now.md)
* [Offset](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/offset.md)
* [ParseDateTime](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/parsedatetime.md)
* [Quarter](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/quarter.md)
* [Second](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/second.md)
* [SetTimezone](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/settimezone.md)
* [TimeFormat](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/timeformat.md)
* [TimeUnits](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/timeunits.md)
* [Week](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/week.md)
* [Year](/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/year.md)


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://boxlang.ortusbooks.com/boxlang-language/reference/built-in-functions/temporal/datediff.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.