The TIME function in Google Sheets is a powerful tool for converting specified hours, minutes, and seconds into a time value. This function is particularly useful when working with time data for calculations, reporting, or displaying formatted time values in spreadsheets.

Syntax

TIME(hour, minute, second)

• hour: A required parameter that represents the hour component (0-23).
• minute: A required parameter indicating the minute component (0-59).
• second: A required parameter denoting the second component (0-59).

Example #1

TIME(14, 30, 15)

This function call creates a time value for 2:30:15 PM, returning the result 14:30:15 in a standard time format.

Example #2

TIME(9, 0, 0)

This function generates a time value representing 9:00:00 AM, which results in 09:00:00.

Example #3

TIME(23, 59, 59)

By calling this function, it returns the maximum value for time within a day, yielding 23:59:59 as the output.

Error handling

• VALUE!: This error occurs if any of the parameters are non-numeric or contain text instead of numbers.
• NUM!: This error appears when the hour, minute, or second values are outside their valid ranges (hour must be between 0-23, minutes and seconds between 0-59).

Conclusion

The TIME function is an essential component for anyone working with time-related data in Google Sheets. By understanding its syntax and potential error messages, users can effectively utilize this function to enhance their spreadsheet applications, ensuring accurate time representation for various tasks.