---
title: What are date fields, and how do I use one? | Paperform Help Center | Paperform
description: With a Date field, you can ask your submitters to type a specific date or select a date from the dropdown calendar.
url: "https://paperform.co/help/articles/date-field"
type: static
generatedAt: "2026-04-04T00:42:02.874Z"
---

What are date fields, and how do I use one?
### Field Types
        ![(iframe)](https://www.loom.com/embed/d800da3d4b6b4a1e96729837777c967a?hide_owner=true&hide_share=true&hide_title=true&hideEmbedTopBar=true)

With a [Date Selector](https://paperform.co/widgets/date-selector/) field, you can ask your submitters to type a specific date or select a date from the dropdown calendar.

![Date field configuration.](https://img.paperform.co/fetch/f_auto,w_1400/https://d3gw2uv1ch7vdq.cloudfront.net/img/date-field-configuration.png)
Date field configuration.
## Adding a Date field to your form

### Using slash commands

 1. Navigate to an empty line on your form and type `/date.`
 1. Select the Date field from the options shown.
 1. Edit the necessary details, e.g., question title and description.
 1. Select the configuration panel to the right to configure details such as logic, formatting, and date input.

### Without using slash commands

 1. Navigate to an empty line in your form editor and select the "Add questions" icon to the editor's left.
 1. Choose "Date" as the field type using the dropdown menu.
 1. Edit the necessary details, e.g., question title and description.
 1. Select the configuration panel to the right of the field to configure details such as logic, formatting, and date input.

## Date Formatting.

To configure how Date fields are formatted within reporting and results:

 1. Navigate to [Account Settings](https://paperform.co/account/) → Account Details.
 1. Scroll to "Date Format" and select your preferred date order. This will only format the results within your reports and submission results sent via email responses. If you want to format the Date field within the form itself, select the configuration panel to on the right of the field.

### Related Articles
  [Can I change the format of a date question?  The format of a date question is determined by the "Order of date" option. Begin by configuring your Date question, and in the Configuration Panel modify the "Order of date" option.](/help/articles/change-the-format-of-a-pre-filled-date-question/)
[Can I select multiple dates using one date question?  No, only one date can be entered per date question.](/help/articles/can-i-let-the-user-select-multiple-dates-using-one-date-question/)
[Can I require only dates in the past or future?  Yes, toggle the corresponding setting for dates in the past or future. If you want to allow both dates in the past and future, leave both toggled off.](/help/articles/can-i-require-only-dates-in-the-past-or-future/)
[Can I change the placeholder of a Date question from "DD / MM / YYYY" to another format?  By default, the placeholder for a Date question is "DD / MM / YYYY." This can be set to a specific date or the current day in the question's configuration panel.](/help/articles/can-i-set-the-placeholder-of-a-date-question-to-text-mm-dd-yyyy-instead-of-numbers/)