Today, we explore an interesting and vital function within Google Data Studio - the DAY function. This practical yet straightforward tool provides key insights by evaluating and returning the day of the month from any given date.
There are two different ways to utilize the DAY function, contingent on the data you have:
Extracting the day from a Date or Date & Time value:
DAY(date_expression)Extracting the day from a compatibility mode Date value:
DAY(X [,Input Format])In both instances:
date_expressionXInput FormatXXLet's now dissect how to use the DAY function.
When extracting the day from a Date or Date & Time value, you simply use the
DAY(date_expression)On the other hand, when dealing with the compatibility mode Date value, you should use the
DAY(X [,Input Format])%Y/%m/%d-%H:%M:%S%Y-%m-%d [%H:%M:%S]XSECONDSMILLISMICROSNANOSJULIAN_DATELet's apply this knowledge with some practical sales metrics:
Suppose we have a sales record date and we want to determine the sales day:
For a Date or Date & Time value:
DAY("2025/12/25")25For compatibility mode Date value with Text field:
DAY("20211225", "DEFAULT_DECIMAL")25DAY(1609459200, "SECONDS")1While hugely beneficial, the DAY function does have some limitations. Due to its design, it only returns the 'day' part of a date; thus, it can't be used to extract other components like month or year from a date. Additionally, it works optimally with compatibility mode dates and upgraded Date and Date & Time data types.
To maximize the DAY function, ensure to correctly identify whether your data is in Date or Date & Time format, a compatibility mode Date value, or a Number field. Utilizing the correct syntax is crucial for the correct output. Additionally, knowing and understanding the various formatting available for
XThe DAY function, while elementary in Google Data Studio, deciphers compelling insights from our date data. Breathing proficiency into this function allows for better interpretation and comprehension of your data sets.
