How to use the SECOND function in Excel

The Excel SECOND function is a DATE & TIME function. This function takes time value as input and returns the SECOND value from the input time value in numerical format. In this article, we will learn how to use the SECOND function in Excel. Time value in excel is stored as number.

Syntax of SECOND Function:

serial_number : time value

Example of SECOND Function
All of these might be confusing to understand. So, let's test this formula via running it on the example shown below. So, here I have a table of some data. Excel understands time value as numerical value. The first column contains the time value or date and time value combined, the second column contains SECOND value as result of the using the SECOND function and the third column contains the important notes using the function.

Use the formula:

Here the argument for the SECOND function is given using cell reference. The returned value is zero as excel considers SECOND value starting from 0 as 00:00:00 AM and 59 as 00:59:00 AM. As shown in the above snapshot, you can change the format of any cell to any format using the format cell option. Now You can copy the formula from one to the remaining cells using the Ctrl + D shortcut key or using the drag down option in excel.

As you can see from the above snapshot that SECOND function takes time value as input and returns the SECOND value from the time value. The function returns #VALUE! Error if the time or date & time value is invalid.

Excel SECOND function : SECOND function with other formulas to return result in SECOND format. SECOND function is mostly used with other date and time functions for calculating SECOND values in Excel. From one time value extract SECOND, SECOND and second for more calculation like the one shown below to get the minimum exit time entry.

Use the formula:

Here the SECOND function extracts SECOND value, SECOND function extracts SECOND value and second function extracts second value from the given time value and performs operation over numerical values and returns the arguments to the TIME function to get in return the required time value.

Here are some observational notes shown below.

Notes:

1. The formula only works with numbers.
2. The numerical SECOND value starts from 12:10:00 AM as 0 and goes upto 59 as 12:10:59 AM and the cycle repeats itself.
3. Arguments to the function must be numeric values or else the function returns #NAME? Error.
4. No argument about the function returns #NUM! Error.
5. The function ignores the hours and minutes value
6. The function returns #VALUE! Error if the date or time value is invalid.

Hope this article about how to use the SECOND function in Excel is explanatory. Find more articles on DATE & TIME formulas here. If you like our blogs, share it with your friends on Facebook. Also, follow us on Twitter and Facebook. We would love to hear from you, do let us know how we can improve, complement or innovate our work and make it better for you. Write to us at info@exceltip.com.

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