.NET Framework Class Library
DateTime..::.Now Property

Gets a DateTime object that is set to the current date and time on this computer, expressed as the local time.

Namespace:  System
Assembly:  mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)
Syntax
Visual Basic (Declaration) 
Public Shared ReadOnly Property Now As DateTime
Visual Basic (Usage) 
Dim value As DateTime

value = DateTime.Now
C# 
public static DateTime Now { get; }
Visual C++ 
public:
static property DateTime Now {
    DateTime get ();
}
JScript 
public static function get Now () : DateTime

Property Value

Type: System..::.DateTime
A DateTime whose value is the current local date and time.
Remarks

The resolution of this property depends on the system timer.

System

Approximate Resolution

Windows NT 3.5 and later

10 milliseconds

Windows 98

55 milliseconds

Starting with the .NET Framework version 2.0, the return value is a DateTime whose Kind property returns DateTimeKind..::.Local.

NoteNote:

You can also use the Now property to retrieve the current local date and time. It allows a local time to be expressed unambiguously as a single point in time, which in turn makes that time value portable across computers.

Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows CE Platform Note: In Windows CE, time is specific only to the second. You can get a more precise time span measurement, for example, in milliseconds, by using the TickCount property.

Examples

The following example uses the SpecifyKind method to demonstrate how the Kind property influences the ToLocalTime and ToUniversalTime conversion methods.

Visual Basic 
' This code example demonstrates the DateTime Kind, Now, and
' UtcNow properties, and the SpecifyKind(), ToLocalTime(), 
' and ToUniversalTime() methods.
Imports System

Class Sample
    Public Shared Sub Main() 
        ' Get the date and time for the current moment, adjusted 
        ' to the local time zone.
        Dim saveNow As DateTime = DateTime.Now

        ' Get the date and time for the current moment expressed 
        ' as coordinated universal time (UTC).
        Dim saveUtcNow As DateTime = DateTime.UtcNow
        Dim myDt As DateTime

        ' Display the value and Kind property of the current moment 
        ' expressed as UTC and local time.
        DisplayNow("UtcNow: ..........", saveUtcNow)
        DisplayNow("Now: .............", saveNow)
        Console.WriteLine()

        ' Change the Kind property of the current moment to 
        ' DateTimeKind.Utc and display the result.
        myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Utc)
        Display("Utc: .............", myDt)

        ' Change the Kind property of the current moment to 
        ' DateTimeKind.Local and display the result.
        myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Local)
        Display("Local: ...........", myDt)

        ' Change the Kind property of the current moment to 
        ' DateTimeKind.Unspecified and display the result.
        myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Unspecified)
        Display("Unspecified: .....", myDt)
    End Sub 'Main

    ' Display the value and Kind property of a DateTime structure, the 
    ' DateTime structure converted to local time, and the DateTime 
    ' structure converted to universal time. 

    Public Shared datePatt As String = "M/d/yyyy hh:mm:ss tt"

    Public Shared Sub Display(ByVal title As String, ByVal inputDt As DateTime) 
        Dim dispDt As DateTime = inputDt
        Dim dtString As String

        ' Display the original DateTime.
        dtString = dispDt.ToString(datePatt)
        Console.WriteLine("{0} {1}, Kind = {2}", title, dtString, dispDt.Kind)

        ' Convert inputDt to local time and display the result. 
        ' If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Utc, the conversion is performed.
        ' If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Local, the conversion is not performed.
        ' If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Unspecified, the conversion is 
        ' performed as if inputDt was universal time.
        dispDt = inputDt.ToLocalTime()
        dtString = dispDt.ToString(datePatt)
        Console.WriteLine("  ToLocalTime:     {0}, Kind = {1}", dtString, dispDt.Kind)

        ' Convert inputDt to universal time and display the result. 
        ' If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Utc, the conversion is not performed.
        ' If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Local, the conversion is performed.
        ' If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Unspecified, the conversion is 
        ' performed as if inputDt was local time.
        dispDt = inputDt.ToUniversalTime()
        dtString = dispDt.ToString(datePatt)
        Console.WriteLine("  ToUniversalTime: {0}, Kind = {1}", dtString, dispDt.Kind)
        Console.WriteLine()
    End Sub 'Display


    ' Display the value and Kind property for DateTime.Now and DateTime.UtcNow.

    Public Shared Sub DisplayNow(ByVal title As String, ByVal inputDt As DateTime) 
        Dim dtString As String = inputDt.ToString(datePatt)
        Console.WriteLine("{0} {1}, Kind = {2}", title, dtString, inputDt.Kind)
    End Sub 'DisplayNow
End Class 'Sample

'
'This code example produces the following results:
'
'UtcNow: .......... 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
'Now: ............. 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
'
'Utc: ............. 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
'  ToLocalTime:     5/6/2005 07:34:42 AM, Kind = Local
'  ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
'
'Local: ........... 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
'  ToLocalTime:     5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
'  ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
'
'Unspecified: ..... 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Unspecified
'  ToLocalTime:     5/6/2005 07:34:42 AM, Kind = Local
'  ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
'
C# 
// This code example demonstrates the DateTime Kind, Now, and
// UtcNow properties, and the SpecifyKind(), ToLocalTime(), 
// and ToUniversalTime() methods.

using System;

class Sample 
{
    public static void Main() 
    {
// Get the date and time for the current moment, adjusted 
// to the local time zone.

    DateTime saveNow = DateTime.Now;

// Get the date and time for the current moment expressed 
// as coordinated universal time (UTC).

    DateTime saveUtcNow = DateTime.UtcNow;
    DateTime myDt;

// Display the value and Kind property of the current moment 
// expressed as UTC and local time.

    DisplayNow("UtcNow: ..........", saveUtcNow);
    DisplayNow("Now: .............", saveNow);
    Console.WriteLine();

// Change the Kind property of the current moment to 
// DateTimeKind.Utc and display the result.

    myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Utc);
    Display("Utc: .............", myDt);

// Change the Kind property of the current moment to 
// DateTimeKind.Local and display the result.

    myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Local);
    Display("Local: ...........", myDt);

// Change the Kind property of the current moment to 
// DateTimeKind.Unspecified and display the result.

    myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Unspecified);
    Display("Unspecified: .....", myDt);
    }

// Display the value and Kind property of a DateTime structure, the 
// DateTime structure converted to local time, and the DateTime 
// structure converted to universal time. 

    public static string datePatt = @"M/d/yyyy hh:mm:ss tt";
    public static void Display(string title, DateTime inputDt)
    {
    DateTime dispDt = inputDt;
    string dtString;

// Display the original DateTime.

    dtString = dispDt.ToString(datePatt);
    Console.WriteLine("{0} {1}, Kind = {2}", 
                      title, dtString, dispDt.Kind);

// Convert inputDt to local time and display the result. 
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Utc, the conversion is performed.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Local, the conversion is not performed.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Unspecified, the conversion is 
// performed as if inputDt was universal time.

    dispDt = inputDt.ToLocalTime();
    dtString = dispDt.ToString(datePatt);
    Console.WriteLine("  ToLocalTime:     {0}, Kind = {1}", 
                      dtString, dispDt.Kind);

// Convert inputDt to universal time and display the result. 
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Utc, the conversion is not performed.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Local, the conversion is performed.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Unspecified, the conversion is 
// performed as if inputDt was local time.

    dispDt = inputDt.ToUniversalTime();
    dtString = dispDt.ToString(datePatt);
    Console.WriteLine("  ToUniversalTime: {0}, Kind = {1}", 
                      dtString, dispDt.Kind);
    Console.WriteLine();
    }

// Display the value and Kind property for DateTime.Now and DateTime.UtcNow.

    public static void DisplayNow(string title, DateTime inputDt)
    {
    string dtString = inputDt.ToString(datePatt);
    Console.WriteLine("{0} {1}, Kind = {2}", 
                      title, dtString, inputDt.Kind);
    }
}

/*
This code example produces the following results:

UtcNow: .......... 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
Now: ............. 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local

Utc: ............. 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
  ToLocalTime:     5/6/2005 07:34:42 AM, Kind = Local
  ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc

Local: ........... 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
  ToLocalTime:     5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
  ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc

Unspecified: ..... 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Unspecified
  ToLocalTime:     5/6/2005 07:34:42 AM, Kind = Local
  ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc

*/
Platforms

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98, Windows CE, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Xbox 360, Zune

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.
Version Information

.NET Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Compact Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 2.0, 1.0

XNA Framework

Supported in: 3.0, 2.0, 1.0
See Also

Reference

DateTime Structure
DateTime Members
System Namespace
Now
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Community Content

Alex Boesel
DateTime.Now suboptimal as a timing mechanism

If you're not planning on printing out the times you're measuring with DateTime.Now & TimeSpan in human-readable form, it's a much better idea to use the System.Diagnostics.Stopwatch class instead. It's much more performant (about .5us for a call to Stopwatch.ElapsedMilliseconds vs .8us for DateTime.Now), and requires far fewer keystrokes to accomplish time measurement.

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Kristof Verbiest
Sometimes it is better to use DateTime.UtcNow

It is sometimes better to use DateTime.UtcNow (especially when Daylight Savings Time kicks in).

For more information, see here: http://kristofverbiest.blogspot.com/2008/10/sometimes-it-is-better-to-use.html

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greatwhitenorth
Just in case you want a decent time stamp....
    using
    System;
class TestDateTimeFormats {staticvoid Main(){DateTime dt = newDateTime(2000, 10, 11, 15, 32, 14);
    // Prints "2000-10-11T15:32:14"Console.WriteLine(dt.ToString());
    // Prints "Wednesday, October 11, 2000"Console.WriteLine("{0}", dt);
    // Prints "10/11/2000"Console.WriteLine("{0:d}", dt);
    // Prints "Wednesday, October 11, 2000"Console.WriteLine("{0:D}", dt);
    // Prints "Wednesday, October 11, 2000 3:32 PM"Console.WriteLine("{0:f}", dt);
    // Prints "Wednesday, October 11, 2000 3:32:14 PM"Console.WriteLine("{0:F}", dt);
    // Prints "10/11/2000 3:32 PM"Console.WriteLine("{0:g}", dt);
    // Prints "10/11/2000 3:32:14 PM"Console.WriteLine("{0:G}", dt);
    // Prints "October 11"Console.WriteLine("{0:m}", dt);
    // Prints "October 11"Console.WriteLine("{0:M}", dt);
    // Prints "Wed, 11 Oct 2000 22:32:14 GMT"Console.WriteLine("{0:r}", dt);
    // Prints "Wed, 11 Oct 2000 22:32:14 GMT"Console.WriteLine("{0:R}", dt);
    // Prints "3:32 PM"Console.WriteLine("{0:t}", dt);
    // Prints "3:32:14 PM"Console.WriteLine("{0:T}", dt);
    // Prints "2000-10-11 22:32:14Z"Console.WriteLine("{0:u}", dt);
    // Prints "Wednesday, October 11, 2000 10:32:14 PM"Console.WriteLine("{0:U}", dt);
    // Prints "October, 2000"Console.WriteLine("{0:y}", dt);
    // Prints "October, 2000"Console.WriteLine("{0:Y}", dt);
    // Prints "Wednesday the 11 day of October in the year 2000"Console.WriteLine("{0:dddd 'the' d 'day of' MMMM 'in the year' yyyy}", dt);
  }}
    
      
     
    Thanks to: http://en.csharp-online.net/CSharp_Format_Specifiers%E2%80%94DateTime_Format_Specifiers
Tags : now datetime

aspnet simple samples
Working C# DateTime simple sample for downloading!
You can find DateTime.Now simple working project here - http://aspnet-simple-samples.blogspot.com/2010/01/datetime-sample.html
It shows date and time in 5 formats simultaniously.

ASP.NET Simple Samples

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