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$rightNow

$rightNow(picture?, timezone?) -> number | string
Compact type signature<s?s?:x>
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Date And Time

Source: FUME

Documentation​

Returns the current Unix timestamp in milliseconds as a number.

Unlike $millis(), which is fixed once per evaluation, $rightNow() reads the clock each time it is called. Use it when you need the actual current time during a long-running or asynchronous mapping rather than the evaluation start time.

The function does not inspect the input. With no picture, it returns a numeric millisecond timestamp. With a picture, it returns a formatted string using the same picture and timezone rules as $fromMillis().

Availability​

Numeric timestamp

Community v3.0.0+
Enterprise v3.0.0+

Formatted timestamp

Formatting arguments and the date, dateTime, instant and time picture aliases require:

Community v3.2.0+
Enterprise v3.2.0+

The no-argument numeric form is also available in earlier releases.

Examples​

Format the current time​

  • $rightNow("date") returns the current UTC date, such as "2026-10-06".
  • $rightNow("instant") returns the current UTC timestamp, such as "2026-10-06T09:30:00.000Z".
  • $rightNow("[H01]:[m01]", "-0500") returns the current time at UTC-05:00.

Check the timestamp shape without depending on an exact clock value​

No file-backed example is used here because $rightNow() ignores the input and the useful contract is the return type and its relation to $millis().

Input

null

Expression

($start := $millis(); $now := $rightNow(); {"isNumber": $type($now) = "number", "atOrAfterEvaluationStart": $now >= $start})

Result

{
  "isNumber": true,
  "atOrAfterEvaluationStart": true
}