Using the TODAY function for real-time calculations in Excel

What is the TODAY function?

The TODAY function serves to extract the current month and year in an Excel spreadsheet. It proves highly useful for accurately showcasing today's date in any spreadsheet you're working on. Here are some applications of the TODAY function in work and life:

• Accurately display the full date in Excel
• Use the TODAY function to calculate age
• Calculate precise time intervals as needed when combined with other functions

TODAY Function Syntax

Syntax =TODAY(), then press Enter.

Note:

• The syntax of the TODAY function does not include any arguments.
• When entering the syntax into a cell, the result will return the current date without any additional parameters. The time is 0 hours.

Additionally, to separate the day, month, and year, use the following syntax:

• Extract day from date: =DAY(TODAY())
• Extract month from date: =MONTH(TODAY())
• Extract year from date: =YEAR(TODAY())

How to use the TODAY function

Explore practical examples of using the TODAY() formula. Follow along for basic implementation.

Using the TODAY function to retrieve the current time

Step 1: In the cell where you want to display the current time, enter the syntax =TODAY().

Step 2: Press Enter, and the result will be shown in the data cell.

Retrieve the current date and add 5 days in the future

Step 1: In the cell for the future time, enter the TODAY function with the following syntax: =TODAY()+5.

Function explanation: This syntax is used to return the date 5 days into the future. For example, if the current date is 15/03/2021, the result will be 20/03/2021.

Step 2: Press Enter, and the result will be displayed in the data cell.

Result explanation: The TODAY function represents a series of serial numbers. If the date 15/03/2021 has a serial number of 44270, then 20/03/2021 will have a serial number of 44275.

Calculate the number of days between today and 30/4/2021

Step 1: In the cell where you want to get the number of days between two dates, enter =DATEVALUE('04/30/21')-TODAY()

Function explanation:

• The DATEVALUE('04/30/21') function returns the serial number for the date 30/04/2021.
• The TODAY() function displays the serial number for the current date.

Step 2: Press Enter, and the result will be displayed in the data cell.

Result explanation: To calculate the number of days between the two time points, subtract the serial number for 30/04/2021 from the serial number for the current date.

Note: To display the result correctly, the result cell needs to be formatted as General or Number.

Use the TODAY function to get the current date in the month

As introduced earlier, the TODAY function retrieves the current date. If you combine the formula correctly, you'll see how simple it is to use this function.

Attention:

• April, June, September, and November have 30 days
• January, March, May, July, August, October, and December have 31 days
• February has 28 days, in a leap year, it has 29 days

Step 1: In the cell where you want to see the result, enter the TODAY function with the syntax =DAY(TODAY())

Step 2: Press Enter, and the result will be displayed in the data cell.

Result explanation: The result returns the current day in the month. If today is 15/03/2021, the result will be 15.

Retrieve the current month in the year (from month 1 to month 12)

Step 1: In the cell where you want to see the result, enter the TODAY function with the syntax =MONTH(TODAY())

Step 2: Press Enter, and the result will be displayed in the data cell.

Result explanation: This syntax returns the current month in a year. If today is 15/03/2021, the result will be 3.

After reading the article, Mytour has provided you with information about the TODAY function in Excel. We hope you can effectively apply this function in your work and studies. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below.