Curriculum
Dates and times are among the most important types of data used in business reporting and Data Analytics. Organizations track sales transactions, customer purchases, employee attendance, project timelines, financial periods, delivery schedules, and operational activities using date and time information.
Microsoft Excel provides a powerful set of Date and Time Functions that help analysts perform calculations, generate reports, track trends, and automate time-based analysis.
For example, a Data Analyst may need to:
Date and Time Functions simplify these tasks and improve analytical efficiency.
In this lesson, you will learn the most important Date and Time Functions in Excel and how they are applied in real-world Data Analytics projects.
Excel stores dates and times as numerical values.
Excel treats dates as serial numbers.
Example:
01-Jan-1900 = 1
01-Jan-2026 = A much larger serial number
This system allows Excel to perform calculations involving dates.
Time values are stored as fractions of a day.
Example:
12:00 PM = 0.5
6:00 PM = 0.75
Because dates and times are numerical values internally, Excel can easily calculate differences and durations.
Date and Time Functions help analysts:
Many business decisions rely on accurate time-based analysis.
The TODAY Function returns the current date.
=TODAY()Result:
07-Jun-2026
The value updates automatically whenever the workbook is opened.
The NOW Function returns the current date and time.
=NOW()Result:
07-Jun-2026 10:30 AM
The result updates automatically.
The DATE Function creates a valid date from year, month, and day values.
=DATE(year,month,day)=DATE(2026,6,7)Result:
07-Jun-2026
The DAY Function extracts the day from a date.
=DAY(date)=DAY("07-Jun-2026")Result:
7
The MONTH Function extracts the month number from a date.
=MONTH(date)=MONTH("07-Jun-2026")Result:
6
The YEAR Function extracts the year from a date.
=YEAR(date)=YEAR("07-Jun-2026")Result:
2026
The TIME Function creates a time value using hours, minutes, and seconds.
=TIME(hour,minute,second)=TIME(10,30,0)Result:
10:30 AM
The HOUR Function extracts the hour from a time value.
=HOUR(time)=HOUR("10:30 AM")Result:
10
The MINUTE Function extracts minutes from a time value.
=MINUTE(time)=MINUTE("10:30 AM")Result:
30
The SECOND Function extracts seconds from a time value.
=SECOND(time)=SECOND("10:30:45 AM")Result:
45
The DATEDIF Function calculates the difference between two dates.
=DATEDIF(start_date,end_date,unit)=DATEDIF(A2,B2,"D")Result:
Number of days between two dates.
| Unit | Meaning |
|---|---|
| D | Days |
| M | Months |
| Y | Years |
The DAYS Function calculates the total number of days between two dates.
=DAYS(end_date,start_date)=DAYS("31-Dec-2026","01-Jan-2026")Result:
364
The EDATE Function adds or subtracts months from a date.
=EDATE(start_date,months)=EDATE("07-Jun-2026",6)Result:
07-Dec-2026
The EOMONTH Function returns the last day of a month.
=EOMONTH(start_date,months)=EOMONTH("07-Jun-2026",0)Result:
30-Jun-2026
The WEEKDAY Function returns the day of the week as a number.
=WEEKDAY(date)=WEEKDAY("07-Jun-2026")Result:
1
Depending on settings, values correspond to days of the week.
The WEEKNUM Function returns the week number of a date.
=WEEKNUM(date)=WEEKNUM("07-Jun-2026")Result:
Week Number
The NETWORKDAYS Function calculates working days between two dates.
=NETWORKDAYS(start_date,end_date)=NETWORKDAYS("01-Jun-2026","30-Jun-2026")Result:
Working days excluding weekends.
The WORKDAY Function calculates a future working date.
=WORKDAY(start_date,days)=WORKDAY("07-Jun-2026",10)Result:
Date after 10 working days.
The TEXT Function formats dates and times.
=TEXT(value,format)=TEXT(TODAY(),"dd-mmm-yyyy")Result:
07-Jun-2026
Examples:
Functions Used:
Benefits:
Time-based business insights.
Examples:
Functions Used:
Benefits:
Improved workforce management.
Examples:
Functions Used:
Benefits:
Accurate financial planning.
Examples:
Functions Used:
Benefits:
Better project execution.
Text values may prevent calculations.
Always verify date formatting.
Different regional formats can create confusion.
Use consistent date standards.
Some calculations require NETWORKDAYS instead of DAYS.
Ensure proper data types before analysis.
Use consistent formats across reports.
Check whether dates are stored correctly.
Functions such as TODAY and NOW improve automation.
Clarify how dates are calculated.
Verify outputs before sharing reports.
Organizations gain:
Date and Time Functions are critical tools for every Data Analyst.
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
The TODAY Function returns the current date and updates automatically.
The NOW Function returns both the current date and current time.
Use the DAYS or DATEDIF function.
DATEDIF calculates the difference between two dates in days, months, or years.
NETWORKDAYS calculates working days between two dates, excluding weekends.
WORKDAY returns a future date after a specified number of working days.
Use the MONTH function.
They help analyze trends, calculate durations, generate reports, and support business decision-making.
Want to master Excel, reporting, and business analytics?