Difference between now() and today() ?

The difference is the time component, the data type, and how each one relates to the time zone. This applies in Appian and in most SQL databases.

now()

1. Returns the current date and time
2. Data type: DateTime
3. Time zone aware: it uses the system or user time zone

Use now() when you need an exact timestamp: logging, audit trails, or comparing against other DateTime values.

today()

1. Returns the current date only
2. Data type: Date
3. Indirectly time zone dependent: the date comes from the system time zone, but no time is stored

Use today() when only the date matters: filtering records by date, or daily reports.

A common mistake

Comparing now() with today() directly fails, because now() carries a time and today() is midnight (00:00:00):

Compare the date part instead: