Looker Studio Function: Looker Studio TODAY Complete Guide with Examples : Use case
Category: DATE function
The TODAY() function in Looker Studio returns the current date based on the system’s local time zone. It is widely used for real-time reporting, dynamic comparisons, date calculations, and dashboard automation.
Purpose of the TODAY
1. Real-Time Reporting
TODAY() allows dashboards to update automatically every day without manual date entry. This is essential for daily monitoring of KPIs such as sales, website visits, orders, and revenue.
2. Performance Comparison
Enables comparison of metrics such as Today vs. Yesterday, Today vs. Last Week, Today vs. Last Month, etc., making trend analysis simple and automated.
3. Alerting & Status Tracking
Useful for identifying overdue tasks, pending deliverables, SLA breaches, and follow-ups by comparing due dates against TODAY().
Type of Calculation & Practical Use Cases
✅ Daily Insights
Monitor same-day performance such as today’s revenue, active users, or ticket creation.
✅ Tracking Delays
Calculate overdue days:
DATE_DIFF(TODAY(), Due_Date)
✅ Automated Filters
Use TODAY() in filter controls to show only today’s records.
✅ Dynamic Time Comparisons
Compare Today to previous periods using:
DATE_DIFF(TODAY(), DATE_SUB(TODAY(), INTERVAL 1 DAY))
TODAY()
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| None | Returns the current system date | |
How Does the TODAY() Function Work?
This Function automatically detects the local timezone settings of the Looker Studio data source and returns the current date (without time).
It updates daily without manual input, enabling live dashboards and automated reporting.
When should use the TODAY() Function Work?
Use TODAY() whenever you need dynamic reference to the current date for:
Date comparison calculations
Real-time dashboards
Status or delay calculations
Filtering recent records (today, last 7 days, month to date, etc.)
The TODAY() function returns the current date for dynamic and automated reporting without manual updates.
No — TODAY() works only with date-type fields. Convert fields first using PARSE_DATE(), CAST(), or DATE() if needed.
No, TODAY() returns only the date portion. Use NOW() if you need time as well.
It enables daily KPIs and comparisons like Today vs Yesterday, Today vs Last Week, and overdue calculations.
Yes — TODAY() can filter dashboards for today’s records automatically, without updating ranges manually.
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