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# Before

Returns `True` when the date in the databox falls before the date given. Any time part is ignored.

| Expression             | Databox value        | Result  |
| ---------------------- | -------------------- | ------- |
| `Before("14-10-2020")` | `15-10-2020 08:00pm` | `False` |
| `Before("20-03-2023")` | `21-11-2020`         | `True`  |

Use this rather than `<`, which compares the text and not the date. See also [After](/reference/expression-reference/date-expressions/after.md) and [BetweenDates](/reference/expression-reference/date-expressions/betweendates.md).