# Date explanation

**URL:** <https://forum.getodk.org/t/date-explanation/6936>\
**Category:** Support\
**Tags:** odk-aggregate\
**Created:** [June 19, 2017, 6:37am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/date-explanation/6936 "2017-06-19T06:37:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Larence](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Larence](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Larence)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 6:37am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/date-explanation/6936/1 "2017-06-19T06:37:13Z")

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I am new in ODK. Can anyone help me in explaining about creation date, submission date, marked as completed date. I am using postgreSQL.

Thanks

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**Author:** ![yanokwa](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/yanokwa/32/1695_2.png) [@yanokwa](https://forum.getodk.org/u/yanokwa)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2017, 2:14pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/date-explanation/6936/2 "2017-06-19T14:14:35Z")

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Welcome to ODK, Larence! Be sure to [introduce yourself here](https://forum.getodk.org/t/6671) and add a profile picture when you get a chance.

creation date is metadata for the database. It's the datetime the database record was created.

submission date is the datetime the XML submission arrived at the server.

marked as completed date is the datetime all the attachments to the XML submission (e.g., pictures, audio, video) arrived.

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**Author:** ![Larence](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Larence](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Larence)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 5:24am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/date-explanation/6936/3 "2017-06-20T05:24:01Z")

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I submitted the data and it shows the same datetime for creation date, submission date and marked as completed date. Doesn't the creation date should differ from other two?

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**Author:** ![yanokwa](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/yanokwa/32/1695_2.png) [@yanokwa](https://forum.getodk.org/u/yanokwa)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/date-explanation/6936/4 "2017-06-20T17:19:12Z")

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They shouldn't necessarily differ and if they do differ, it'd likely be by very small amounts.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Larence](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Larence](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Larence)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 6:19am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/date-explanation/6936/5 "2017-06-21T06:19:23Z")

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Thanks Yaw,  
It is really helpful.