Are you struggling to utilize the full potential of Google Sheets date functions? Look no further! In this comprehensive guide, we will explore three categories of date functions: Simple, Standard, and Advanced. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this guide will provide you with the knowledge you need to become an expert in Google Sheets date functions.
Simple Google Sheets Date Functions
Let’s start with the basics. These simple date functions are the building blocks you need to understand before moving on to more complex ones.
Google Sheets TODAY Function
The TODAY function is a useful tool for retrieving the current date. Simply use the formula =TODAY() in a cell, and it will automatically update with the current date whenever you open the sheet.
Google Sheets DAY Function
The DAY function returns the day from a given date. You can use the formula =DAY(date) to extract the day from a specific date.
Google Sheets NOW Function
Similar to the TODAY function, the NOW function returns the current date and time. Use the formula =NOW() to retrieve the current date and time in a cell.
Google Sheets MONTH Function
The MONTH function returns the month from a given date. To extract the month from a specific date, use the formula =MONTH(date).
Google Sheets YEAR Function
The YEAR function retrieves the year from a specific date. Use the formula =YEAR(date) to extract the year from a given date.
Standard Google Sheets Date Functions
Now that you’re familiar with the simple date functions, let’s move on to the standard ones. These will allow you to perform more complex calculations and manipulations.
Google Sheets DATE Function
The DATE function converts a provided year, month, and day into a date. Use the formula =DATE(year, month, day) to create a date from individual components.
Google Sheets DATEVALUE Function
The DATEVALUE function converts a date stored as text into a serial number that Google Sheets recognizes as a date. Use the formula =DATEVALUE(date_string) to convert a text date to a serial number.
Google Sheets DAYS Function
The DAYS function calculates the number of days between two given dates. Use the formula =DAYS(end_date, start_date) to find the difference in days between two dates.
Google Sheets DAYS360 Function
The DAYS360 function calculates the difference between two dates based on a 360-day year. Use the formula =DAYS360(start_date, end_date, [method]) for financial interest calculations.
Google Sheets Advanced Date Functions
Finally, let’s explore the advanced date functions in Google Sheets. These functions are slightly more complex but offer powerful capabilities for advanced calculations.
Google Sheets EDATE Function
The EDATE function allows you to calculate a date after a certain number of months. Use the formula =EDATE(start_date, months) to find a date after adding or subtracting a specific number of months.
Google Sheets ISOWEEKNUM Function
The ISOWEEKNUM function returns the week number within a year based on the ISO 8601 standard. Use the formula =ISOWEEKNUM(date) to determine the week number for a specific date.
Google Sheets NETWORKDAYS Function
The NETWORKDAYS function calculates the number of working days between two given dates. Use the formula =NETWORKDAYS(start_date, end_date, [holidays]) to exclude weekends and holidays from the calculation.
Google Sheets WORKDAY Function
The WORKDAY function determines a date after a specified number of working days. Use the formula =WORKDAY(start_date, num_days, [holidays]) to find a future date after a given number of working days.
Google Sheets YEARFRAC Function
The YEARFRAC function calculates the number of years and fractions of years between two dates. Use the formula =YEARFRAC(start_date, end_date, [day_count_convention]) to determine the fractional difference between two dates.
Google Sheets WEEKDAY Function
The WEEKDAY function returns the day of the week for a given date. Use the formula =WEEKDAY(date, type) to obtain the day of the week as a number.
Google Sheets WEEKNUM Function
The WEEKNUM function determines the week number within a year for a given date. Use the formula =WEEKNUM(date, type) to calculate the week number.
Google Sheets EOMONTH Function
The EOMONTH function retrieves the last day of the month for a given date. Use the formula =EOMONTH(start_date, months) to find the end of the month.
In conclusion, Google Sheets date functions offer a wide range of capabilities for manipulating and analyzing dates. By mastering these functions, you can streamline your workflow and perform complex calculations with ease. With practice and experimentation, you’ll become an expert in no time!
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