---
schema_version: "1"
id: 4c2efa60b0d9de7ad0ae8cae672db017b4eab30298225b862ba4013c55a2837c
title: TODAY
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/platform/264-0-0/customize_functions_today.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.customize_functions_today.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 5983a6ccd090848371ccc17a4e41403c5794e8da9dc72701d528931215948901
description: Returns the current date as a date data type.
products:
  - Salesforce Platform
  - Security
release: "264"
---
# TODAY

Returns the current date as a date data type.

## Use

`TODAY()`

## Tips

- Do not remove the parentheses.
- Keep the parentheses empty. They do not need to contain a value.
- Use a date field with a TODAY function instead of a date/time field. Last Activity Date is a date field whereas Created Date and Last Modified Date are date/time fields.
- See [NOW](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=platform.customize_functions_now.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Returns a date/time representing the current moment.") if you prefer to use a date/time field.
- Dates and times are always calculated using the user’s time zone.
- Use addition and subtraction operators with a TODAY function and other date fields to return a number representing a number of days. For example `TODAY()-LastActivityDate` calculates the number of days since the last activity date. In this example, the formula field data type is a number.
- Use addition and subtraction operators with a TODAY function and numbers to return a date. For example `TODAY() +5` calculates the date five days ahead of today. In this example, the formula field data type is a date.

![Formula Example](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-extend_click-264-0-0-production-enus/5f7d9219-b7b1-4552-8891-f1aba9b289fc/images/icon_example.png)

Formula Example `TODAY()-Sample_date_c` calculates how many days in the sample are left.

![Validation Rule Example](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-platform-extend_click-264-0-0-production-enus/5f7d9219-b7b1-4552-8891-f1aba9b289fc/images/icon_example.png)

Validation Rule Example

```
SampleDate < TODAY()
```

This example ensures that users cannot change the Sample Date to any date in the past.