Syntax
SECOND(serial_number)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| serial_number | Parameter of the SECOND function. |
Examples
Get seconds
Formula
=SECOND("3:45:30 PM")
Returns 30 — the seconds portion of the time value.
Precise timestamp analysis
Formula
=HOUR(A1) & ":" & TEXT(MINUTE(A1),"00") & ":" & TEXT(SECOND(A1),"00")
Reconstructs a time string like "15:45:30" from a datetime. TEXT ensures two-digit formatting for minutes and seconds.
Sub-minute precision
Formula
=IF(SECOND(A1)>0, "Has seconds", "Exact minute")
Checks whether a time has sub-minute precision. Useful for cleaning timestamp data that should be rounded to whole minutes.
Common Errors
#VALUE!
Occurs when the argument cannot be interpreted as a time or datetime value.
Tips
Returns 0-59
SECOND always returns an integer from 0 to 59. Milliseconds are not captured by this function.
Rarely used alone
SECOND is typically used alongside HOUR and MINUTE when decomposing time values. Most business reporting doesn't need second-level granularity.
Strip seconds from time
=TIME(HOUR(A1), MINUTE(A1), 0) removes the seconds component from a time value, rounding down to the nearest whole minute.
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