# Min (Date)

| **Name**    | ***Min (Date)***                                                                             |
| ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Syntax      | Min (Date first, Date second)                                                                |
| Purpose     | To return the earlier of two date values.                                                    |
| Description | Returns the minimum of two date values.                                                      |
| Return Type | DateTime                                                                                     |
| Parameters  | <p>first \[System.DateTime] – First value</p><p>second \[System.DateTime] – Second value</p> |

![](https://github.com/astera-software/Astera_Data_Stack_v9/blob/main/.gitbook/assets/0%20\(34\).png)

**Example**

In this example, we are passing DateTime values to the function transformation object using a *Variables* object.

Where,

*first* = 09/08/1998

*second* = 05/04/1995

<figure><img src="https://github.com/astera-software/Astera_Data_Stack_v9/blob/main/.gitbook/assets/1%20(35).png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

In the output window, you can see that the earlier date of the two provided date values has been returned.

![](https://github.com/astera-software/Astera_Data_Stack_v9/blob/main/.gitbook/assets/2%20\(35\).png)

Let’s now pass the same date values, but with different time values.

Where,

*first* = 09/08/1998 02:50:40 AM

*second* = 09/08/1998 02:50:50 AM

![](https://github.com/astera-software/Astera_Data_Stack_v9/blob/main/.gitbook/assets/3%20\(19\).png)

In the output window, you can see that the earlier datetime of the two provided datetime values has been returned.

![](https://github.com/astera-software/Astera_Data_Stack_v9/blob/main/.gitbook/assets/4%20\(4\).png)