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=FUNCTIONS

TODAY()

Date & Time

Returns the current date, updated automatically whenever the sheet recalculates.

TODAY()

TODAY takes no arguments and always returns the current date according to the system clock. It's volatile — it recalculates every time the workbook opens or anything else forces a recalculation.

Because it changes on its own, avoid it where you need a date to stay fixed, like an invoice date — type or paste that as a static value instead.

Examples

=TODAY()
7/24/2026

Whatever today's date is when the sheet calculates.

=C2<TODAY()
TRUE

A common way to flag overdue dates.

Related functions