While working with Excel, we are able to display the current date by using TODAY or NOW function. This step by step tutorial will assist all levels of Excel users in displaying the current date in three different methods.
Figure 1. Final result: Display the current date
Syntax of TODAY Function
=TODAY()
- TODAY function does not have any arguments
- TODAY returns the current date
- It can be used in combination with other functions and mathematical operations to obtain the desired results
Syntax of NOW Function
=NOW()
- NOW function does not have any arguments
- NOW returns the current date and time
Setting up our Data
Our data consists of two columns : Display current date (column B) and Result (column C). Column B contains the three different methods that we will employ to display the current date. The results will be recorded in column C.
Figure 2. Sample template to display current date
Display current date using TODAY function
Displaying the current date is easily done by using the TODAY function. Let us follow these steps:
Step 1. Select cell C3
Step 2. Enter the formula: =TODAY()
Step 3. Press ENTER
As a result, the value in C3 is 1/17/2019, which is the date today.
Figure 3. Using TODAY function to display current date
Display current date using keyboard shortcut
TODAY function returns the current date and recalculates every time the worksheet is opened or updated. In order to display current date and fix the value at that date, we can make use of the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + ;.
Let us follow these steps:
Step 1. Select cell C4
Step 2. Press Ctrl + ;
Step 3. Press ENTER
As a result, the value in C4 is 1/17/2019, which is the same as in our previous example. The date returned by this method is a constant value and does not update every time the worksheet is opened or updated.
Figure 4. Using Ctrl + ; shortcut to display current date
Display current date using NOW function
There is a third method to display current date, but this alternative also displays the current time. Let us follow these steps:
Step 1. Select cell C5
Step 2. Enter the formula: =NOW()
Step 3. Press ENTER
As a result, the value in C5 is 1/17/2019 23:24, which is the current date with time. This function is similar to the TODAY function, wherein it also updates the value every time the worksheet is opened or updated.
Figure 5. Using NOW function to display current date and time
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