# FIRSTDATE

Returns the first date in the current context for the specified column of dates.

## Syntax

FIRSTDATE(<dates>)


### Parameters

Term Definition
dates A column that contains dates.

## Return value

A table containing a single column and single row with a date value.

## Remarks

• The dates argument can be any of the following:

• A reference to a date/time column.
• A table expression that returns a single column of date/time values.
• A Boolean expression that defines a single-column table of date/time values.
• Constraints on Boolean expressions are described in the topic, CALCULATE function.

• When the current context is a single date, the date returned by the FIRSTDATE and LASTDATE functions will be equal.

• The Return value is a table that contains a single column and single value. Therefore, this function can be used as an argument to any function that requires a table in its arguments. Also, the returned value can be used whenever a date value is required.

• This function is not supported for use in DirectQuery mode when used in calculated columns or row-level security (RLS) rules.

## Example

The following sample formula creates a measure that obtains the first date when a sale was made in the Internet sales channel for the current context.

= FIRSTDATE('InternetSales_USD'[SaleDateKey])