# format\_time

{% hint style="info" %}
Sys Schema is available from MariaDB 10.6.
{% endhint %}

## Syntax

```
sys.format_time(picoseconds)
```

## Description

`format_time` is a [stored function](/docs/server/server-usage/stored-routines/stored-functions.md) available with the [Sys Schema](/docs/server/reference/system-tables/sys-schema.md). Given a time in picoseconds, returns a human-readable time value and unit indicator. Unit can be:

* ps - picoseconds
* ns - nanoseconds
* us - microseconds
* ms - milliseconds
* s - seconds
* m - minutes
* h - hours
* d - days
* w - weeks

This function is very similar to the [FORMAT\_PICO\_TIME](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/date-time-functions/format_pico_time.md) function introduced in [MariaDB 11.0.2](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/11.0/11.0.2.md), but with the following differences:

* Represents minutes as `m` rather than `min`.
* Represent weeks.

## Examples

```sql
SELECT
    sys.format_time(43) AS ps,
    sys.format_time(4321) AS ns, 
    sys.format_time(43211234) AS us,
    sys.format_time(432112344321) AS ms,
    sys.format_time(43211234432123) AS s,
    sys.format_time(432112344321234) AS m,
    sys.format_time(4321123443212345) AS h,
    sys.format_time(432112344321234545) AS d,
    sys.format_time(43211234432123444543) AS w;
+-------+---------+----------+-----------+---------+--------+--------+--------+---------+
| ps    | ns      | us       | ms        | s       | m      | h      | d      | w       |
+-------+---------+----------+-----------+---------+--------+--------+--------+---------+
| 43 ps | 4.32 ns | 43.21 us | 432.11 ms | 43.21 s | 7.20 m | 1.20 h | 5.00 d | 71.45 w |
+-------+---------+----------+-----------+---------+--------+--------+--------+---------+
```

<sub>*This page is licensed: CC BY-SA / Gnu FDL*</sub>

{% @marketo/form formId="4316" %}


---

# Agent Instructions: 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:

```
GET https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/system-tables/sys-schema/sys-schema-stored-functions/format_time.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
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.