MATLAB Function Reference

datenum

Serial date number

Syntax

• N = datenum(DT)
  N = datenum(DT,P)
  N = datenum(Y,M,D)
  N = datenum(Y,M,D,H,MI,S)
  

Description

The datenum function converts date strings and date vectors (defined by datevec) into serial date numbers. Date numbers are serial days elapsed from some reference date. By default, the serial day 1 corresponds to 1-Jan-0000.

N = datenum(DT) converts the date string or date vector DT into a serial date number. Date strings with two-character years, e.g., 12-june-12, are assumed to lie within the 100-year period centered about the current year.

Note    If DT is a string, it must be in one of the date formats 0, 1, 2, 6, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 23 as defined by datestr.

N = datenum(DT,P) uses the specified pivot year as the starting year of the 100-year range in which a two-character year resides. The default pivot year is the current year minus 50 years.

N = datenum(Y,M,D) returns the serial date number for corresponding elements of the Y, M, and D (year, month, day) arrays. Y, M, and D must be arrays of the same size (or any can be a scalar). Values outside the normal range of each array are automatically "carried" to the next unit.

N = datenum(Y,M,D,H,MI,S) returns the serial date number for corresponding elements of the Y, M, D, H, MI, and S (year, month, day, hour, minute, and second) array values. Y, M, D, H, MI, and S must be arrays of the same size (or any can be a scalar). Values outside the normal range of each array are automatically carried to the next unit (for example month values greater than 12 are carried to years). Month values less than 1 are set to be 1. All other units can wrap and have valid negative values.

Examples

Convert a date string to a serial date number.

• n = datenum('19-May-2001')
  
  n =
        730990
  

Specifying year, month, and day, convert a date to a serial date number.

• n = datenum(2001,12,19)
  
  n =
        731204
  

Convert a date vector to a serial date number.

• format bank
  n = datenum([2001 5 19 18 0 0])
  
  n =
    730990.75
  

Convert a date string to a serial date number using the default pivot year

• n = datenum('12-june-12')
  
  n =
        735032
  

Convert the same date string to a serial date number using 1900 as the pivot year.

• n = datenum('12-june-12', 1900)
  
  n =
        698507
  

See Also

datestr, datevec, now

date

datestr