# ``date``
## Properties
:dimensions: N_PROF
:dtype: str32
## Default Attributes
| Attribute | Value |
|-----|-----|
|``whp_name`` | ``DATE`` |
## Description
The UTC date in zero padded YYYYMMDD format. The date reported is usually cast bottom for Bottle files and cast start for CTD files. Valid range for YYYY: 0001-9999. Valid range for MM: 01-12. Valid range for DD: 01-31 (depends on month and year). The format of dates corresponds to the C-strftime format of ``%Y%m%d``.

The date should be read as a string, but be able to be cast unambiguously to an integer. To convert from integer representation, left pad zeros to match the date format description. For example, the integer ``8020202`` is the date ``08020202`` or Feb 2nd, 802. This is a very unlikely situation.