Date
Putting the current date in a cell
Definition
Putting the current date in a cell means writing TODAY with empty parentheses.
Syntax
=TODAY()
Arguments
| Argument | Meaning |
|---|---|
(none) |
TODAY takes no arguments, but the empty parentheses are still required. |
Worked example
A visitor log keeps names at the desk. The stamp cell is C2. Assume the clock reads 2 April 2025.
| A: Visitor | B: Desk |
|---|---|
| Ada | 1 |
| Ben | 2 |
| Cara | 3 |
Formula: =TODAY()
Result: 2 April 2025. That is the date from the clock on that day, stored as a date serial in C2.
Practice
Cell A2 holds 1. In B2, write =TODAY(). The result is today's date serial and it changes each day.
- In B2, write a TODAY formula.
Step 1 of 1
Enter =TODAY() in B2.
Formulas here use English function names, such as SUM, and a period as the decimal separator, in every language.
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B2 uses TODAY.
The next lesson is Finding the lowest price.
Related functions
TODAY is the function that returns that date from the clock.
Common mistake
Leaving out the parentheses, as in =TODAY: the formula then looks for a name called TODAY and returns #NAME?.