TODAY and NOW in Google Sheets - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the formula to get the current date in Google Sheets.

Google Sheets

= [1]()

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ANOW

BTIME

CTODAY

DDATE

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using NOW() returns date and time, not just the date.

Using DATE() requires arguments and does not return current date automatically.

The TODAY() function returns the current date without the time.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the formula to get the current date and time in Google Sheets.

Google Sheets

= [1]()

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ATODAY

BNOW

CDATE

DTIME

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using TODAY() returns only the date, not the time.

Using TIME() requires arguments and does not return current time automatically.

The NOW() function returns the current date and time, updating every time the sheet recalculates.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the formula to get the current date only.

Google Sheets

= [1]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ATODAY()

BTODAY

CNOW

DNOW()

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Forgetting parentheses after function names.

Using NOW() when only date is needed.

Functions in Google Sheets need parentheses () to work. TODAY() returns the current date.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create a formula that shows the current date and time, then adds 1 day.

Google Sheets

= [1]() + [2]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ANOW

BTODAY

C1

D24

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using TODAY() adds only date without time.

Adding 24 adds 24 days, not hours.

NOW() gives current date and time. Adding 1 adds one full day (24 hours).

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a formula that shows the current date, adds 3 days, and formats the result as text.

Google Sheets

= TEXT([1]() + [2], [3])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

ATODAY

B3

C"yyyy-mm-dd"

D"hh:mm:ss"

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using NOW() instead of TODAY() when only date is needed.

Forgetting to put quotes around the format string.

Using wrong format string for date.

TODAY() returns current date. Adding 3 adds three days. TEXT(..., "yyyy-mm-dd") formats the date as year-month-day.

Practice

1. What does the TODAY() function return in Google Sheets?

easy

A. The current date and time

B. The current time without the date

C. The current date without the time

D. A fixed date set by the user

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of TODAY()

   The TODAY() function returns the current date only, without any time information.

2. Step 2: Compare with other functions

   NOW() returns both date and time, so it is different from TODAY().

3. Final Answer:

   The current date without the time -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   TODAY() = current date only [OK]

Hint: TODAY() shows date only, no time included [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing TODAY() with NOW()
• Expecting time to be included in TODAY()
• Thinking TODAY() returns a fixed date

2. Which of the following is the correct way to write the formula that shows the current date and time in Google Sheets?

easy

A. =NOW()

B. =TODAY()

C. =CURRENT()

D. =DATE()

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the function for current date and time

   The function NOW() returns the current date and time in Google Sheets.

2. Step 2: Check other options

   TODAY() returns only the date; CURRENT() and DATE() are invalid or require parameters.

3. Final Answer:

   =NOW() -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   NOW() = current date and time [OK]

Hint: Use NOW() for date and time, TODAY() for date only [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using TODAY() to get time
• Typing CURRENT() which is not a valid function
• Using DATE() without parameters

3. If cell A1 contains the formula =NOW() and cell A2 contains =TODAY(), which of the following is true about their outputs?

medium

A. A1 shows date only; A2 shows date and time

B. Both show date only

C. Both show date and time

D. A1 shows date and time; A2 shows date only

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand outputs of NOW() and TODAY()

   NOW() returns current date and time; TODAY() returns current date only.

2. Step 2: Match outputs to cells

   Cell A1 with =NOW() shows date and time; A2 with =TODAY() shows date only.

3. Final Answer:

   A1 shows date and time; A2 shows date only -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   NOW() = date & time, TODAY() = date only [OK]

Hint: NOW() includes time, TODAY() does not [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping outputs of NOW() and TODAY()
• Expecting TODAY() to show time
• Thinking NOW() shows date only

4. You entered =TODAY (without parentheses) in a cell. What will happen?

medium

A. It will show an error

B. It will show the current time

C. It will show the text '=TODAY'

D. It will show the current date

Solution

1. Step 1: Check function syntax

   Functions in Google Sheets require parentheses, even if empty, so =TODAY is incomplete syntax.

2. Step 2: Result of missing parentheses

   Without parentheses, Google Sheets returns an error indicating invalid formula.

3. Final Answer:

   It will show an error -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Functions need () to work, else error [OK]

Hint: Always include () after function names [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting parentheses for functions
• Expecting function to work without ()
• Typing function name as text

5. You want to create a spreadsheet that shows the current date and time in cell A1 and updates automatically every time the sheet recalculates. Which formula should you use and why?

hard

A. =TODAY() because it updates date and time automatically

B. =NOW() because it updates date and time automatically

C. =NOW() but it only updates when you manually refresh

D. =TODAY() but it only updates when you open the sheet

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify function that returns date and time

   NOW() returns both current date and time, while TODAY() returns only date.

2. Step 2: Understand update behavior

   NOW() updates automatically when the sheet recalculates, showing fresh date and time.

3. Final Answer:

   =NOW() because it updates date and time automatically -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   NOW() updates date & time automatically [OK]

Hint: Use NOW() for auto-updating date and time [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using TODAY() expecting time updates
• Thinking NOW() updates only on manual refresh
• Confusing update triggers for TODAY()