How to use TODAY function in Excel

What is TODAY Function in Excel?

• Today function is one of the types of Worksheet function (WS) in Excel.
• Today Function belongs to the Date and Time functions.
• It is used to calculate the current date.
• Today() function does not take any arguments or parameters.
• On the cell in which we have applied, the today function will always be automatically updated. Continuously, whenever we open the worksheet, it will recalculate the date.
• Today is a function; that's why it is represented using parenthesis.
• Today() can be used in various formats by changing the type of format in the excel sheet.
• It is also used to calculate the number of days.
• Whenever we apply the today Function on any cell, it returns the current date.
• By default, it returns the current date using date format, but as per the user's convenience, they can change the format.

Syntax

Today function can be used in various forms-

=today()

=TODAY()

=Today()

=today()

and so on.

Here we can easily see that today() is not case sensitive; we can use it in the above forms.

How to use the Today() function?

Method 1 –

Using the today function by applying proper syntax.

Suppose you need to print the current date on any particular cell then follow the steps –

1. Click on the desired cell.
2. Type “=Today() ” in it.
3. Then press Enter.
4. You will find the current date printed on cell A1.
5. If we want to change the format of the date, then click on the home section.
6. In the format, cell click on the desired format that we want to choose.

Method 2 –

Using the today function without applying the proper syntax. By inserting the today function.

1. Click on the cell on which you want to write the current date.
2. Then click on the formulas present at the ribbon bar.
3. After clicking on the formulas section, we will find the various formulas used in MS Excel present in the function Library.
4. Today function has come under date and time functions.
5. Click on the date and time.
6. Then choose the option TODAY over there.
7. After clicking on today, we will find the current date already written on the desired cell.
8. If we want to change the format of the date, then click on the home section.
9. In the format, cell click on the desired format that we want to choose.

But according to me, we should go for method one because it is more reliable, and the one who is learning excel should have the knowledge of all the functions used in MS Excel.

Examples to use function TODAY in Excel Sheet

Example 1: To fetch out the current date on cell A1 –

• Click on cell A1.
• Write =today() in it.
• Press enter.

Example 2: To fetch out the date of 6 days before the current date on cell A2 –

• Click on cell A2.
• Write =today()-6 in it.
• Press enter.

Example 3: To fetch out the date of 7 days ahead of the current date on cell A3 –

• Click on cell A3.
• Write =today()+7 in it.
• Press enter

Example 4: To fetch out the number of days on cell B1 between the current date with the output date of example 2.

• Click on cell B1.
• Write =today()-A2 in it.
• Press enter.
• Change the format from date to General.

Example 5: To fetch out the number of days on cells B2 and B3 between the current date and the output dates of A3 and A4 on a single click.

• Click on cell B1
• Select and extend the mark to B3.

Example 6: To fetch out the day on cell C1 of the current date.

• Click on cell C1.
• Write =Day(today()) in it.
• Press enter.

Example 7: To fetch out the month on cell C2 of the current date.

• Click on cell C2.
• Write =month(today()) in it.
• Press enter.

Example 8: To fetch out the year on cell C3 of the current date.

• Click on cell C3.
• Write =year(today()) in it.
• Press enter.

Example 9: To fetch the number of days from the current date using two different sheets.

• Click on cell A1 of sheet 2.
• Write any date format in it.
• Click on cell D1 of sheet 1.
• Enter “ = “.
• Then move back to sheet two and click on cell A1.
• On sheet one, click on D1 write " - "
• Then on sheet one, click on cell A1.
• Press enter.

Similarly, we can do a lot of practice in this way and find multiple uses of today() function.