TODAY

Returns the current date.

Syntax

TODAY()  

Return value

A date (datetime).

Remarks

  • The TODAY function is useful when you need to have the current date displayed on a worksheet, regardless of when you open the workbook. It is also useful for calculating intervals.

  • If the TODAY function does not update the date when you expect it to, you might need to change the settings that control when the column or workbook is refreshed..

  • The NOW function is similar but returns the exact time, whereas TODAY returns the time value 12:00:00 PM for all dates.

Example

If you know that someone was born in 1963, you might use the following formula to find that person's age as of this year's birthday:

= YEAR(TODAY())-1963  

This formula uses the TODAY function as an argument for the YEAR function to obtain the current year, and then subtracts 1963, returning the person's age.

Date and time functions
NOW