# Get timestamp of a tag in an expression

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/get-timestamp-of-a-tag-in-an-expression/93477>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [July 19, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/get-timestamp-of-a-tag-in-an-expression/93477 "2024-07-19T16:09:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![vrautomation](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/vrautomation/32/11155_2.png) [@vrautomation](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/vrautomation)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 4:09pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/get-timestamp-of-a-tag-in-an-expression/93477/1 "2024-07-19T16:09:39Z")

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Hello folks,

I'm trying to build an expression that will calculate the seconds between now() and a tag timestamp.

But how ti get the timestamp of a tag in an expression? I can't find anything so far...

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/get-timestamp-of-a-tag-in-an-expression/93477/2 "2024-07-19T16:10:30Z")

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You would bind to the `.timestamp` property of the tag in a tag binding. Use that value in your expression. If not an indirect binding, you can also just put that inside the curly braces in your expression.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vrautomation](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/vrautomation/32/11155_2.png) [@vrautomation](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/vrautomation)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/get-timestamp-of-a-tag-in-an-expression/93477/3 "2024-07-19T16:13:05Z")

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There must be something I'm missing...

![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/9/0/909c712205902ad9942e7b2bcf6b8af1e506251a.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/get-timestamp-of-a-tag-in-an-expression/93477/4 "2024-07-19T16:13:41Z")

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> [@pturmel](#):
>
> put that _ **inside** _ the curly braces

See bold.

`{[.]State.timestamp}`

FWIW, I'd use [secondsBetween()](https://www.docs.inductiveautomation.com/docs/8.1/appendix/expression-functions/date-and-time/Between) over `dateDiff` when always using seconds.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vrautomation](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/vrautomation/32/11155_2.png) [@vrautomation](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/vrautomation)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/get-timestamp-of-a-tag-in-an-expression/93477/5 "2024-07-19T16:17:18Z")

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It work. I knew it would be something easy that I was missing.

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Sulivann\_BROUTIN](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/sulivann_broutin/32/4450_2.png) [@Sulivann\_BROUTIN](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Sulivann_BROUTIN)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2026, 7:40am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/get-timestamp-of-a-tag-in-an-expression/93477/6 "2026-04-23T07:40:07Z")

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As an update, since 8.1.10, there is the timestampOf() Expression function : [timestampOf | Ignition User Manual](https://www.docs.inductiveautomation.com/docs/8.1/appendix/expression-functions/advanced/timestampOf)