---
title: "now"
description: "Returns the current time."
---

# now

> Returns the current time.

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

## Description

Returns the current time. The host computer's system clock is used, meaning that if this expression is being evaluated in a running client, the computer running the client's system clock is used.

This function is one of the few expression functions that will poll. If you do not specify a pollRate, it will default to 1,000ms. If you do not want this function to poll, use a poll rate of zero.

## Syntax

`now([pollRate])`

### Parameters

| Type    | Parameter   | Description                                                                           |
|---------|-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Integer | `pollRate`  | The poll rate in milliseconds to update the time. Defaults to 1,000 ms. [optional]    |

### Returns

**Date** - The current time, based on the host computer's system clock. If a poll rate is specified, the returned time will update at the given interval.

## Examples

```python title="Code Snippet"
now() //Returns the current time, updates every second.
```

```python title="Code Snippet"
now(13000) //Returns the current time, updates every 13 seconds.
```

```python title="Code Snippet"
dateFormat(now(0), "MMM d, h:mm a") //returns a string representing the current time, formatted like "Feb 12, 9:54 AM". Does not update
```