This template returns the difference in days (possibly with decimals) between two dates in the Gregorian calendar. The return value is positive if date2 comes afterdate1, and is negative if date2 comes beforedate1 (i.e. the template computes date2 - date1). This template is identical to {{DATEDIFF}}, except that it requires only that up to two parameters be inputted instead of up to twelve since it makes use of the #time: parser function.
If two dates supplied, the template calculates the difference between them, in days. If only one date is supplied, then the supplied date is calculated against the current date. If no dates are supplied, the template calculates the number of days from the start of the Julian epoch to the current date. If an invalid date is supplied, then the text is returned unaltered.
The inputted dates may be in any format understood by the #time: parser function. E.g., July 18, 2008, 18 July 2008 and 2008-07-18 are all valid. Hours, minutes and seconds can likewise be inputted.
This template can be used for dates from 1 January 1970 onward only.
