The TODAY function in Microsoft Excel returns the current date’s serial number. This serial number represents the date and time as a numerical value used for calculations. When TODAY is entered into a cell previously formatted as “General,” Excel automatically changes the format to “Date,” displaying the date in a recognizable format. To see the underlying serial number, you must manually change the cell format back to “General” or “Number.” The primary purpose of the TODAY function is to dynamically display the current date in a worksheet, updating each time the workbook is opened.
The TODAY function is invaluable for tasks requiring the current date, eliminating manual updates. It’s frequently used in calculating time intervals. For instance, to determine someone’s age based on their birth year, you could use a formula like =YEAR(TODAY()) - 1963. This formula utilizes TODAY within the YEAR function to extract the current year and subtracts the birth year (1963) to calculate the age.
Should the TODAY function fail to update as expected, check the recalculation settings. In Excel’s options, under “Formulas” and “Calculation options,” ensure that “Automatic” is selected. This setting controls how frequently Excel updates formulas, including TODAY.
The syntax of the TODAY function is straightforward: TODAY(). It doesn’t require any arguments.
Excel manages dates internally as sequential serial numbers, facilitating date-based calculations. January 1, 1900, is assigned the serial number 1, and subsequent dates increment accordingly. For example, January 1, 2008, is serial number 39448, representing the 39,447 days elapsed since January 1, 1900. This sequential numbering system allows for easy date comparisons and calculations.
The following table illustrates the usage of the TODAY function in various formulas:
| Formula | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|
| =TODAY() | Returns the current date. | 12/1/2011 |
| =TODAY()+5 | Returns the current date plus 5 days. For example, if the current date is 1/1/2012, this formula returns 1/6/2012. | 12/6/2011 |
| =DATEVALUE(“1/1/2030”)-TODAY() | Returns the number of days between the current date and 1/1/2030. Note that cell A4 must be formatted as General or Number for the result to display correctly. | 1/31/1918 |
| =DAY(TODAY()) | Returns the current day of the month (1 – 31). | 1 |
| =MONTH(TODAY()) | Returns the current month of the year (1 – 12). For example, if the current month is May, this formula returns 5. | 12 |
This table demonstrates how the TODAY function can be combined with other Excel functions to perform various date-related calculations. Understanding these examples will help you utilize the TODAY function effectively in your spreadsheets. Note how the results might vary depending on the current date when the formula is executed.
