\HeaderA{date}{System Date and Time}{date}
\keyword{utilities}{date}
\begin{Description}\relax
Returns a character string of the current system date and time.
\end{Description}
\begin{Usage}
\begin{verbatim}date()\end{verbatim}
\end{Usage}
\begin{Value}
The string has the form \code{"Fri Aug 20 11:11:00 1999"}, i.e.,
length 24, since it relies on POSIX's \code{ctime} ensuring the above
fixed format.  Timezone and Daylight Saving Time are taken account of,
but \emph{not} indicated in the result.

The day and month abbreviations are always in English, irrespective
of locale.
\end{Value}
\begin{References}\relax
Becker, R. A., Chambers, J. M. and Wilks, A. R. (1988)
\emph{The New S Language}.
Wadsworth \& Brooks/Cole.
\end{References}
\begin{SeeAlso}\relax
\code{\LinkA{Sys.Date}{Sys.Date}} and \code{\LinkA{Sys.time}{Sys.time}}; \code{\LinkA{Date}{Date}}
and
\code{\LinkA{DateTimeClasses}{DateTimeClasses}} for objects representing date and time.
\end{SeeAlso}
\begin{Examples}
\begin{ExampleCode}
(d <- date())
nchar(d) == 24

## something similar in the current locale
format(Sys.time(), "%a %b %d %H:%M:%S %Y")
\end{ExampleCode}
\end{Examples}

