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.NET Framework 2.0
System
TimeSpan Structure
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This page is specific to
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005/.NET Framework 2.0

Other versions are also available for the following:
.NET Framework Class Library
TimeSpan Structure

Represents a time interval.

Namespace: System
Assembly: mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)

 Syntax
Visual Basic (Declaration) 
<SerializableAttribute> _
<ComVisibleAttribute(True)> _
Public Structure TimeSpan
    Implements IComparable, IComparable(Of TimeSpan), _
    IEquatable(Of TimeSpan)
Visual Basic (Usage) 
Dim instance As TimeSpan
C# 
[SerializableAttribute] 
[ComVisibleAttribute(true)] 
public struct TimeSpan : IComparable, IComparable<TimeSpan>, 
    IEquatable<TimeSpan>
C++ 
[SerializableAttribute] 
[ComVisibleAttribute(true)] 
public value class TimeSpan : IComparable, IComparable<TimeSpan>, 
    IEquatable<TimeSpan>
J# 
/** @attribute SerializableAttribute() */ 
/** @attribute ComVisibleAttribute(true) */ 
public final class TimeSpan extends ValueType implements IComparable, IComparable<TimeSpan>, 
    IEquatable<TimeSpan>
JScript 
JScript suports the use of structures, but not the declaration of new ones.
 Remarks

A TimeSpan object represents a time interval, or duration of time, measured as a positive or negative number of days, hours, minutes, seconds, and fractions of a second. The largest unit of time used to measure duration is a day. Time intervals are measured in days for consistency because the number of days in larger units of time, such as months and years, varies.

The value of a TimeSpan object is the number of ticks that equal the represented time interval. A tick is equal to 100 nanoseconds, and the value of a TimeSpan object can range from MinValue to MaxValue.

A TimeSpan value can be represented as [-]d.hh:mm:ss.ff, where the optional minus sign indicates a negative time interval, the d component is days, hh is hours as measured on a 24-hour clock, mm is minutes, ss is seconds, and ff is fractions of a second. That is, a time interval consists of a positive or negative number of days without a time of day, or a number of days with a time of day, or only a time of day. For example, the text representation of a TimeSpan object initialized to 1.0e+13 ticks is "11.13:46:40", which means 11 days, 13 hours, 46 minutes, and 40 seconds.

The TimeSpan type implements the System.IComparable and System.IComparable interfaces.
 Example

The following code example creates several TimeSpan objects and displays the properties of each.

Visual Basic 
' Example of the TimeSpan class properties.
Imports System
Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic

Module TimeSpanPropertiesDemo

    Const headerFmt As String = vbCrLf & "{0,-45}"
    Const dataFmt As String = "{0,-12}{1,8}       {2,-18}{3,21}"
    
    ' Display the properties of the TimeSpan parameter.
    Sub ShowTimeSpanProperties( interval as TimeSpan )

        Console.WriteLine( "{0,21}", interval )
        Console.WriteLine( dataFmt, _
            "Days", interval.Days, "TotalDays", interval.TotalDays )
        Console.WriteLine( dataFmt, "Hours", interval.Hours, _
            "TotalHours", interval.TotalHours )
        Console.WriteLine( dataFmt, "Minutes", interval.Minutes, _
            "TotalMinutes", interval.TotalMinutes )
        Console.WriteLine( dataFmt, "Seconds", interval.Seconds, _
            "TotalSeconds", interval.TotalSeconds )
        Console.WriteLine( dataFmt, _
            "Milliseconds", interval.Milliseconds, _
            "TotalMilliseconds", interval.TotalMilliseconds )
        Console.WriteLine( dataFmt, _
            Nothing, Nothing, "Ticks", interval.Ticks )
    End Sub 

    Sub Main( )
        Console.WriteLine( _
            "This example of the TimeSpan class properties " & _
            "generates the " & vbCrLf & "following output. It " & _
            "creates several TimeSpan objects and " & vbCrLf & _
            "displays the values of the TimeSpan properties for " & _
            "each."  )

        ' Create and display a TimeSpan value of 1 tick.
        Console.Write( headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 1 )" )
        ShowTimeSpanProperties( new TimeSpan( 1 ) )

        ' Create a TimeSpan value with a large number of ticks.
        Console.Write( headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 111222333444555 )" )
        ShowTimeSpanProperties( new TimeSpan( 111222333444555 ) )

        ' This TimeSpan has all fields specified.
        Console.Write( headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 )" )
        ShowTimeSpanProperties( new TimeSpan( 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 ) )

        ' This TimeSpan has all fields overflowing.
        Console.Write( headerFmt, _
            "TimeSpan( 1111, 2222, 3333, 4444, 5555 )" )
        ShowTimeSpanProperties( _
            new TimeSpan( 1111, 2222, 3333, 4444, 5555 ) )

        ' This TimeSpan is based on a number of days.
        Console.Write( headerFmt, "FromDays( 20.84745602 )" )
        ShowTimeSpanProperties( TimeSpan.FromDays( 20.84745602 ) )
    End Sub 
End Module 

' This example of the TimeSpan class properties generates the
' following output. It creates several TimeSpan objects and
' displays the values of the TimeSpan properties for each.
' 
' TimeSpan( 1 )                                     00:00:00.0000001
' Days               0       TotalDays          1.15740740740741E-12
' Hours              0       TotalHours         2.77777777777778E-11
' Minutes            0       TotalMinutes       1.66666666666667E-09
' Seconds            0       TotalSeconds                      1E-07
' Milliseconds       0       TotalMilliseconds                0.0001
'                            Ticks                                 1
' 
' TimeSpan( 111222333444555 )                   128.17:30:33.3444555
' Days             128       TotalDays              128.729552597865
' Hours             17       TotalHours             3089.50926234875
' Minutes           30       TotalMinutes           185370.555740925
' Seconds           33       TotalSeconds           11122233.3444555
' Milliseconds     344       TotalMilliseconds      11122233344.4555
'                            Ticks                   111222333444555
' 
' TimeSpan( 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 )                 10.20:30:40.0500000
' Days              10       TotalDays              10.8546302083333
' Hours             20       TotalHours                   260.511125
' Minutes           30       TotalMinutes                 15630.6675
' Seconds           40       TotalSeconds                  937840.05
' Milliseconds      50       TotalMilliseconds             937840050
'                            Ticks                     9378400500000
' 
' TimeSpan( 1111, 2222, 3333, 4444, 5555 )     1205.22:47:09.5550000
' Days            1205       TotalDays              1205.94941614583
' Hours             22       TotalHours                28942.7859875
' Minutes           47       TotalMinutes              1736567.15925
' Seconds            9       TotalSeconds              104194029.555
' Milliseconds     555       TotalMilliseconds          104194029555
'                            Ticks                  1041940295550000
' 
' FromDays( 20.84745602 )                        20.20:20:20.2000000
' Days              20       TotalDays              20.8474560185185
' Hours             20       TotalHours             500.338944444444
' Minutes           20       TotalMinutes           30020.3366666667
' Seconds           20       TotalSeconds                  1801220.2
' Milliseconds     200       TotalMilliseconds            1801220200
'                            Ticks                    18012202000000
C# 
// Example of the TimeSpan class properties.
using System;

class TimeSpanPropertiesDemo
{
    const string headerFmt = "\n{0,-45}";
    const string dataFmt = "{0,-12}{1,8}       {2,-18}{3,21}" ;

    // Display the properties of the TimeSpan parameter.
    static void ShowTimeSpanProperties( TimeSpan interval )
    {
        Console.WriteLine( "{0,21}", interval );
        Console.WriteLine( dataFmt, "Days", interval.Days, 
            "TotalDays", interval.TotalDays );
        Console.WriteLine( dataFmt, "Hours", interval.Hours, 
            "TotalHours", interval.TotalHours );
        Console.WriteLine( dataFmt, "Minutes", interval.Minutes, 
            "TotalMinutes", interval.TotalMinutes );
        Console.WriteLine( dataFmt, "Seconds", interval.Seconds, 
            "TotalSeconds", interval.TotalSeconds );
        Console.WriteLine( dataFmt, "Milliseconds", 
            interval.Milliseconds, "TotalMilliseconds", 
            interval.TotalMilliseconds );
        Console.WriteLine( dataFmt, null, null, 
            "Ticks", interval.Ticks );
    } 

    static void Main( )
    {
        Console.WriteLine(
            "This example of the TimeSpan class properties " +
            "generates the \nfollowing output. It " +
            "creates several TimeSpan objects and \ndisplays " +
            "the values of the TimeSpan properties for each." );

        // Create and display a TimeSpan value of 1 tick.
        Console.Write( headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 1 )" );
        ShowTimeSpanProperties( new TimeSpan( 1 ) );

        // Create a TimeSpan value with a large number of ticks.
        Console.Write( headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 111222333444555 )" );
        ShowTimeSpanProperties( new TimeSpan( 111222333444555 ) );

        // This TimeSpan has all fields specified.
        Console.Write( headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 )" );
        ShowTimeSpanProperties( new TimeSpan( 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 ) );

        // This TimeSpan has all fields overflowing.
        Console.Write( headerFmt, 
            "TimeSpan( 1111, 2222, 3333, 4444, 5555 )" );
        ShowTimeSpanProperties(
            new TimeSpan( 1111, 2222, 3333, 4444, 5555 ) );

        // This TimeSpan is based on a number of days.
        Console.Write( headerFmt, "FromDays( 20.84745602 )" );
        ShowTimeSpanProperties( TimeSpan.FromDays( 20.84745602 ) );
    } 
} 

/*
This example of the TimeSpan class properties generates the
following output. It creates several TimeSpan objects and
displays the values of the TimeSpan properties for each.

TimeSpan( 1 )                                     00:00:00.0000001
Days               0       TotalDays          1.15740740740741E-12
Hours              0       TotalHours         2.77777777777778E-11
Minutes            0       TotalMinutes       1.66666666666667E-09
Seconds            0       TotalSeconds                      1E-07
Milliseconds       0       TotalMilliseconds                0.0001
                           Ticks                                 1

TimeSpan( 111222333444555 )                   128.17:30:33.3444555
Days             128       TotalDays              128.729552597865
Hours             17       TotalHours             3089.50926234875
Minutes           30       TotalMinutes           185370.555740925
Seconds           33       TotalSeconds           11122233.3444555
Milliseconds     344       TotalMilliseconds      11122233344.4555
                           Ticks                   111222333444555

TimeSpan( 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 )                 10.20:30:40.0500000
Days              10       TotalDays              10.8546302083333
Hours             20       TotalHours                   260.511125
Minutes           30       TotalMinutes                 15630.6675
Seconds           40       TotalSeconds                  937840.05
Milliseconds      50       TotalMilliseconds             937840050
                           Ticks                     9378400500000

TimeSpan( 1111, 2222, 3333, 4444, 5555 )     1205.22:47:09.5550000
Days            1205       TotalDays              1205.94941614583
Hours             22       TotalHours                28942.7859875
Minutes           47       TotalMinutes              1736567.15925
Seconds            9       TotalSeconds              104194029.555
Milliseconds     555       TotalMilliseconds          104194029555
                           Ticks                  1041940295550000

FromDays( 20.84745602 )                        20.20:20:20.2000000
Days              20       TotalDays              20.8474560185185
Hours             20       TotalHours             500.338944444444
Minutes           20       TotalMinutes           30020.3366666667
Seconds           20       TotalSeconds                  1801220.2
Milliseconds     200       TotalMilliseconds            1801220200
                           Ticks                    18012202000000
*/
C++ 
// Example of the TimeSpan class properties.
using namespace System;

// Display the properties of the TimeSpan parameter.
static void ShowTimeSpanProperties( TimeSpan interval )
{
   Object^ null = nullptr;
   String^ dataFmt = "{0,-12}{1,8}       {2,-18}{3,21}";
   Console::WriteLine( "{0,21}", interval );
   Console::WriteLine( dataFmt, "Days", interval.Days, "TotalDays", interval.TotalDays );
   Console::WriteLine( dataFmt, "Hours", interval.Hours, "TotalHours", interval.TotalHours );
   Console::WriteLine( dataFmt, "Minutes", interval.Minutes, "TotalMinutes", interval.TotalMinutes );
   Console::WriteLine( dataFmt, "Seconds", interval.Seconds, "TotalSeconds", interval.TotalSeconds );
   Console::WriteLine( dataFmt, "Milliseconds", interval.Milliseconds, "TotalMilliseconds", interval.TotalMilliseconds );
   Console::WriteLine( dataFmt, null, null, "Ticks", interval.Ticks );
}

int main()
{
   String^ headerFmt = "\n{0,-45}";
   Console::WriteLine( "This example of the TimeSpan class properties "
   "generates the \nfollowing output. It "
   "creates several TimeSpan objects and \ndisplays "
   "the values of the TimeSpan properties for each." );
   
   // Create and display a TimeSpan value of 1 tick.
   Console::Write( headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 1 )" );
   ShowTimeSpanProperties( TimeSpan(1) );
   
   // Create a TimeSpan value with a large number of ticks.
   Console::Write( headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 111222333444555 )" );
   ShowTimeSpanProperties( TimeSpan(111222333444555) );
   
   // This TimeSpan has all fields specified.
   Console::Write( headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 )" );
   ShowTimeSpanProperties( TimeSpan(10,20,30,40,50) );
   
   // This TimeSpan has all fields overflowing.
   Console::Write( headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 1111, 2222, 3333, 4444, 5555 )" );
   ShowTimeSpanProperties( TimeSpan(1111,2222,3333,4444,5555) );
   
   // This TimeSpan is based on a number of days.
   Console::Write( headerFmt, "FromDays( 20.84745602 )" );
   ShowTimeSpanProperties( TimeSpan::FromDays( 20.84745602 ) );
}

/*
This example of the TimeSpan class properties generates the
following output. It creates several TimeSpan objects and
displays the values of the TimeSpan properties for each.

TimeSpan( 1 )                                     00:00:00.0000001
Days               0       TotalDays          1.15740740740741E-12
Hours              0       TotalHours         2.77777777777778E-11
Minutes            0       TotalMinutes       1.66666666666667E-09
Seconds            0       TotalSeconds                      1E-07
Milliseconds       0       TotalMilliseconds                0.0001
                           Ticks                                 1

TimeSpan( 111222333444555 )                   128.17:30:33.3444555
Days             128       TotalDays              128.729552597865
Hours             17       TotalHours             3089.50926234875
Minutes           30       TotalMinutes           185370.555740925
Seconds           33       TotalSeconds           11122233.3444555
Milliseconds     344       TotalMilliseconds      11122233344.4555
                           Ticks                   111222333444555

TimeSpan( 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 )                 10.20:30:40.0500000
Days              10       TotalDays              10.8546302083333
Hours             20       TotalHours                   260.511125
Minutes           30       TotalMinutes                 15630.6675
Seconds           40       TotalSeconds                  937840.05
Milliseconds      50       TotalMilliseconds             937840050
                           Ticks                     9378400500000

TimeSpan( 1111, 2222, 3333, 4444, 5555 )     1205.22:47:09.5550000
Days            1205       TotalDays              1205.94941614583
Hours             22       TotalHours                28942.7859875
Minutes           47       TotalMinutes              1736567.15925
Seconds            9       TotalSeconds              104194029.555
Milliseconds     555       TotalMilliseconds          104194029555
                           Ticks                  1041940295550000

FromDays( 20.84745602 )                        20.20:20:20.2000000
Days              20       TotalDays              20.8474560185185
Hours             20       TotalHours             500.338944444444
Minutes           20       TotalMinutes           30020.3366666667
Seconds           20       TotalSeconds                  1801220.2
Milliseconds     200       TotalMilliseconds            1801220200
                           Ticks                    18012202000000
*/
J# 
// Example of the TimeSpan class properties.
import System.*;

class TimeSpanPropertiesDemo
{
    private static String headerFmt = "\n{0,-45}";
    private static String dataFmt = "{0,-12}{1,8}       {2,-18}{3,21}";

    // Display the properties of the TimeSpan parameter.
    static void ShowTimeSpanProperties(TimeSpan interval)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("{0,21}", interval);
        Console.WriteLine(dataFmt, new Object[] { "Days",
            String.valueOf(interval.get_Days()), "TotalDays",
            String.valueOf(interval.get_TotalDays()) });
        Console.WriteLine(dataFmt, new Object[] { "Hours", 
            String.valueOf(interval.get_Hours()), "TotalHours",
            String.valueOf(interval.get_TotalHours()) });
        Console.WriteLine(dataFmt, new Object[] { "Minutes",
            String.valueOf(interval.get_Minutes()), "TotalMinutes",
            String.valueOf(interval.get_TotalMinutes()) });
        Console.WriteLine(dataFmt, new Object[] { "Seconds",
            String.valueOf(interval.get_Seconds()), "TotalSeconds",
            (System.Double)interval.get_TotalSeconds() });
        Console.WriteLine(dataFmt, new Object[] { "Milliseconds", 
            String.valueOf(interval.get_Milliseconds()), "TotalMilliseconds",
            (System.Double)interval.get_TotalMilliseconds() });
        Console.WriteLine(dataFmt, new Object[] { null, null, "Ticks", 
            String.valueOf(interval.get_Ticks()) });
    } //ShowTimeSpanProperties

    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        Console.WriteLine(("This example of the TimeSpan class properties " 
            + "generates the \nfollowing output. It "
            + "creates several TimeSpan objects and \ndisplays " 
            + "the values of the TimeSpan properties for each."));

        // Create and display a TimeSpan value of 1 tick.
        Console.Write(headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 1 )");
        ShowTimeSpanProperties(new TimeSpan(1));

        // Create a TimeSpan value with a large number of ticks.
        Console.Write(headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 111222333444555 )");
        ShowTimeSpanProperties(new TimeSpan(111222333444555L));

        // This TimeSpan has all fields specified.
        Console.Write(headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 )");
        ShowTimeSpanProperties(new TimeSpan(10, 20, 30, 40, 50));

        // This TimeSpan has all fields overflowing.
        Console.Write(headerFmt, "TimeSpan( 1111, 2222, 3333, 4444, 5555 )");
        ShowTimeSpanProperties(new TimeSpan(1111, 2222, 3333, 4444, 5555));

        // This TimeSpan is based on a number of days.
        Console.Write(headerFmt, "FromDays( 20.84745602 )");
        ShowTimeSpanProperties(TimeSpan.FromDays(20.84745602));
    } //main
} //TimeSpanPropertiesDemo

/*
This example of the TimeSpan class properties generates the
following output. It creates several TimeSpan objects and
displays the values of the TimeSpan properties for each.

TimeSpan( 1 )                                     00:00:00.0000001
Days               0       TotalDays         1.1574074074074074E-12
Hours              0       TotalHours        2.7777777777777777E-11
Minutes            0       TotalMinutes      1.6666666666666667E-9
Seconds            0       TotalSeconds                      1E-07
Milliseconds       0       TotalMilliseconds                0.0001
                           Ticks                                 1

TimeSpan( 111222333444555 )                   128.17:30:33.3444555
Days             128       TotalDays             128.7295525978646
Hours             17       TotalHours             3089.50926234875
Minutes           30       TotalMinutes           185370.555740925
Seconds           33       TotalSeconds           11122233.3444555
Milliseconds     344       TotalMilliseconds      11122233344.4555
                           Ticks                   111222333444555

TimeSpan( 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 )                 10.20:30:40.0500000
Days              10       TotalDays            10.854630208333333
Hours             20       TotalHours                   260.511125
Minutes           30       TotalMinutes                 15630.6675
Seconds           40       TotalSeconds                  937840.05
Milliseconds      50       TotalMilliseconds             937840050
                           Ticks                     9378400500000

TimeSpan( 1111, 2222, 3333, 4444, 5555 )     1205.22:47:09.5550000
Days            1205       TotalDays            1205.9494161458333
Hours             22       TotalHours                28942.7859875
Minutes           47       TotalMinutes              1736567.15925
Seconds            9       TotalSeconds              104194029.555
Milliseconds     555       TotalMilliseconds          104194029555
                           Ticks                  1041940295550000

FromDays( 20.84745602 )                        20.20:20:20.2000000
Days              20       TotalDays            20.847456018518518
Hours             20       TotalHours           500.33894444444445
Minutes           20       TotalMinutes         30020.336666666666
Seconds           20       TotalSeconds                  1801220.2
Milliseconds     200       TotalMilliseconds            1801220200
                           Ticks                    18012202000000
*/
 Thread Safety
Any public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.
 Platforms

Windows 98, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows CE, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Starter Edition

The .NET Framework does not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see System Requirements.
 Version Information

.NET Framework

Supported in: 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Compact Framework

Supported in: 2.0, 1.0
 See Also
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Add new content RSS  Annotations
Normalize your times with the TicksPer&lt;x&gt; fields.      David M. Kean - MSFT ... Randolpho   |   Edit   |   Show History

While it's highly unlikely that the duration of a tick (currently 100 nanoseconds) will change, it *could* change at some point in the future -- you just never know. Maintainable and portable code should use the TicksPerDay, TicksPerHour, TicksPerMillisecond, TicksPerMinute, or TicksPerSecond fields to normalize a timespan to the tick itself rather than normalizing to a hard-coded 100 nanosecond interval.

For example, rather than doing this (C#):

long ticks = 3000000000; // 5 minutes (10M ticks/s * 60 s/min * 5 min)
TimeSpan span5Minutes = new TimeSpan(ticks);

 

You should do this:

long ticks = 5 * TimeSpan.TicksPerMinute;
TimeSpan span5Minutes = new TimeSpan(ticks);
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