MySQL: Fetch nearest date

[cancer10]

Hey,

How do I get the nearest date/time row populated using sql?

The datatype for this date field is "datetime"

I tried the folowing, but does not work properly

select YourDateField from yourTable where yourDateField <= date(now())

Even a search in Google didnt help


Please help.

Thanx

[abduraooft]

Try

select YourDateField from yourTable where yourDateField <= date(now()) order by yourDateField DESC limit 1

[ralph l mayo]

The previous example returns the closest date to now() that is before or equal to now(), even if there is a closer date after now(). If you want the absolute closest date try something like:

SELECT date FROM table ORDER BY abs(now() - date) LIMIT 1