Dax Function: UTCTODAY
Category: Date and Time Functions
The UTCTODAY function in Power BI is a DAX function that returns the current date in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), with the time component truncated.
Purpose:
To provide a consistent UTC-based date, suitable for global reporting and time zone-independent calculations.
Type of Calculations:
This function is used to generate a Date value based on the current UTC date.
Practical Use Cases:
- Standardizing date-based calculations across different time zones.
- Filtering data for UTC-specific reporting needs.
- Comparing dates without the influence of time zones.
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| (None) | N/A | The function does not accept any parameters. |
How Does UTCTODAY Dax Function Works
The UTCTODAY function calculates the current UTC date by referencing the system clock on the machine where Power BI is running or the Power BI service. It discards the time component, effectively truncating the result to just the date. It’s dynamic and updates when the data model is refreshed.
Key Characteristics:
- Provides a consistent global date reference.
- Ignores the local time zone of the system.
What Does It Return?
- Type:
Date. - Meaning: Returns the current UTC date as a
Datedata type with the time component removed.
When Should We Use It?
- Global Reporting: For reports shared across different time zones that need a uniform date reference.
- Date-Based Filtering: To filter records for a specific day in UTC without time zone ambiguity.
- Historical Comparisons: For comparing dates across datasets that originate from multiple regions.
Examples
Basic Usage
Create a measure to display the current UTC date:
Output: Returns a value like 2025-02-10.
Column Usage:
Add a calculated column to check if a record date matches today’s UTC date:
Output: Labels rows as “Yes” or “No” based on whether the record date matches the current UTC date.
Advanced Usage
Combine with other functions to create a range filter for the last 7 days:
Output: Flags records within the last 7 days from today in UTC
Tips and Tricks
- Standardization: Use UTCTODAY for global datasets to eliminate inconsistencies caused by time zones.
- Combine with Local Time: Use alongside
NOWorTODAYto compare local dates with UTC. - Avoid Overuse in Columns: Prefer measures over calculated columns for better performance when using UTCTODAY dynamically.
Potential Pitfalls
- Time Zone Differences: UTCTODAY disregards the local time zone, which might lead to mismatched dates in localized datasets.
- Refresh Dependency: The function updates only when the model is refreshed, not in real time.
- Performance Impact: Excessive use in calculated columns can slow down large datasets.
Performance Impact of UTCTODAY DAX Function:
- Use UTCTODAY in measures where possible to reduce the computational overhead during refreshes.
- Cache calculations that depend on UTCTODAY to optimize performance in large datasets.
Related Functions You Might Need
- TODAY: Returns the current date in the local time zone.
- UTCNOW: Returns the current date and time in UTC.
- NOW: Returns the current date and time in the local time zone.
- DATEDIFF: Calculates the difference between two dates.
Want to Learn More?
For more information, check out the official Microsoft documentation for UTCTODAY You can also experiment with this function in your Power BI reports to explore its capabilities.
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It returns the current date in UTC format without the time component.
UTCTODAY provides the date in UTC, while TODAY returns the date based on the local time zone.
Yes, it is ideal for filtering data dynamically for UTC-specific date ranges.
No, UTCTODAY updates only when the Power BI model is refreshed.
No, UTCTODAY is not influenced by daylight saving time as it is based on UTC.
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