---
title: "minDate"
description: "Finds and returns the minimum date in the given column of the given dataset, or the min value in a series of dates specified as arguments."
---

# minDate

> Finds and returns the minimum date in the given column of the given dataset, or the min value in a series of dates specified as arguments.

**This function is used by Ignition's Expression language.**

## Description
Finds and returns the minimum date in the given column of the given dataset, or the min value in a series of dates specified as arguments. When looking up the min date in a dataset, the column may be specified as an index or as a column name. Any null values in the column are ignored. 

## Syntax (index)
`minDate(dataset, columnIndex)`

### Parameters

| Type | Parameter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dataset | `dataset` | The starting dataset to search. |
| Integer | `columnIndex` | The index of the column to search for the min date. Must be a column index of the provided dataset. |

### Returns
**Date** - The minimum date of the given date column in the given dataset.

## Syntax (name)
`minDate(dataset, columnName)`

### Parameters

| Type | Parameter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dataset | `dataset` | The starting dataset to search. |
| String | `columnName` | The name of the column to search for the min date. Must match a column name in the provided dataset. |

### Returns
**Date** - The minimum date of the given date column in the given dataset.

## Syntax (date)
`minDate(date[, date])`

### Parameter

| Type | Parameter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Date | `date` | A date. Can be as many dates as needed. |

### Returns
**Date** - The minimum date of the given dates.

## Examples
Suppose you had a Table with this dataset in it.

| AlarmTime | Path | Severity |
|---|----|---|
| 2010-01-08 7:28:04 | Tanks/Tank5/TempHiAlarm | 4 |
| 2010-01-08 10:13:22 | Tanks/Tank38/LoLevel | 2 |
| 2010-01-08 13:02:56 | Valves/Valve2/ | 2 |

```python title="Code Snippet"
minDate({Root Container.Table.data}, "AlarmTime") //You could use this expression to get the date and time for the oldest alarm
```