---
title: "Date Range"
description: "Control the time period for all reports with preset ranges, custom dates, and comparison periods."
canonical_url: "https://docs.sealmetrics.com/reports/date-range"
lang: "en"
date_generated: "2026-09-21T07:18:17.820Z"
source_hash: "04812d6dd892b9933557f67dd8f74fd11f9d6dedbaeed302773d5dd3d33a9ad8"
content_type: "documentation"
owner: "docs"
llm_priority: "useful"
source_file: "reports/date-range.mdx"
publisher: "Sealmetrics"
---

# Date Range

Canonical page: https://docs.sealmetrics.com/reports/date-range

The date range picker controls which time period data is displayed for across all reports.

## Accessing the Date Picker

Click the date range button in the header (shows the current selection, e.g. "Last 7 days").

## Preset Ranges

Quick selection options, grouped in the picker as **Quick Select**, **This Period**, and **Last Period**.

### Quick Select

| Preset | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| **Today** | Current day (midnight to now) |
| **Yesterday** | Previous complete day |
| **Last 7 days** | Past 7 days including today |
| **Last 30 days** | Past 30 days including today |
| **Last 90 days** | Past 90 days including today |

### This Period

| Preset | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| **This week** | Current week (Monday to today) |
| **This month** | Current month (1st to today) |
| **This quarter** | Current quarter (Q1/Q2/Q3/Q4 to today) |
| **This year** | January 1st to today |

### Last Period

| Preset | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| **Last week** | Previous complete week (Mon-Sun) |
| **Last month** | Previous complete month |
| **Last quarter** | Previous complete quarter |
| **Last year** | Previous complete year |

### Custom Range

1. Click **Custom range**
2. Select start date from the calendar
3. Select end date from the calendar
4. Click **Apply**

Future dates are disabled, so you cannot select a range that extends past today.

## Keyboard Shortcuts

Quick date range selection:

| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `T` | Today |
| `Y` | Yesterday |
| `W` | This Week |
| `M` | This Month |
| `C` | Toggle comparison mode |

Shortcuts work when not focused on an input field.

## Comparison Mode

Compare current period with a previous period to track changes over time.

### Enabling Comparison

1. Click the **Compare** button next to the date range
2. Select a comparison type:
   - No comparison
   - Previous period
   - Previous year
   - Custom comparison

To turn comparison off, choose **No comparison** or click the X on the Compare button. Pressing `C` toggles between no comparison and Previous period.

### Comparison Types

| Type | Description | Example |
|------|-------------|---------|
| **Previous period** | Same duration immediately before the selected range | Jan 15-21 compares to Jan 8-14 |
| **Previous year** | Same dates in the prior year | Jan 15-21, 2025 compares to Jan 15-21, 2024 |
| **Custom comparison** | Manually selected comparison range | Any dates you choose |

**Caution:**
You can pick a custom comparison range in the date picker, but the reports do not use it yet: the dashboard sends it to the API as **Previous period**, so the deltas you see are against the same-length period immediately before your range. Use **Previous period** or **Previous year** until this is fixed. Some reports also ignore the comparison mode entirely (the Overview and Evolution cards always compare with the previous period) — each report page says what its comparison covers.

### Comparison Display

When comparison is enabled:

#### Stat Cards

| Element | Description |
|---------|-------------|
| Current value | Main number |
| Delta percentage | Change from comparison period |
| Delta color | Green (improvement), Red (decline), Gray (no change) |

Example:
```
Entrances
12,450
↑ +15.2%
```

#### Charts

- Primary line/area: Current period
- Secondary line (dashed): Comparison period
- Hover tooltip shows both values

#### Tables

Some tables show comparison columns when enabled.

### Reading Delta Values

| Delta | Interpretation |
|-------|----------------|
| +25% (green) | 25% increase vs comparison |
| -10% (red) | 10% decrease vs comparison |
| 0% (gray) | No change |
| N/A | No comparison data available |

### Metric Interpretation

For some metrics, "improvement" means decrease:

| Metric | Improvement |
|--------|-------------|
| Entrances | Increase (green) |
| Conversions | Increase (green) |
| Revenue | Increase (green) |
| Bounce Rate | Decrease (green) |

Sealmetrics colors deltas appropriately based on metric type.

## Date Range and Reports

### Data Availability

| Report | Date Range Behavior |
|--------|---------------------|
| Overview | Full range data |
| Evolution | Grouped by day/week/month |
| Pages | Aggregate for full range |
| Sources | Aggregate for full range |
| Geography | Aggregate for full range |
| Devices | Aggregate for full range |
| Conversions | Aggregate for full range |
| Funnel | Users completing steps within range |

### Real-Time Data

- **Today**: Includes data up to a few minutes ago
- Data updates approximately every 5 minutes
- Live counter updates in real-time (Overview only)

### Historical Data

- Data available from account creation
- Older data may be aggregated (daily instead of hourly)
- Export includes raw timestamps

## Selection Persistence

Your selected date range and comparison mode are saved locally in your browser (using `localStorage`), not in the page URL.

This means:

- Your last selection is remembered when you return in the **same browser**, even after closing the tab
- The selection is **not** shared via the URL: copying or bookmarking a report link does not carry your date range or comparison mode
- The selection is **per browser and per device**

## Use Cases

### Daily Monitoring

- Use **Today** or **Yesterday** for daily check-ins
- Enable comparison with Previous Period
- Watch for anomalies (>20% change)

### Weekly Reviews

- Use **Last Week** for complete week analysis
- Compare with Previous Period (week before)
- Review trends and patterns

### Monthly Reporting

- Use **Last Month** for monthly reports
- Compare with Previous Year (same month last year)
- Account for seasonality

### Campaign Analysis

- Use **Custom** range matching campaign dates
- Compare with Previous Period (before campaign)
- Measure campaign impact

### Seasonality Analysis

- Use **Last 90 Days** or longer
- Select **Month** grouping in Evolution report
- Identify seasonal patterns

### Year-over-Year Comparison

- Set date range to current period
- Enable **Previous Year** comparison
- Control for seasonal effects

## Best Practices

### Choosing Date Ranges

| Goal | Recommended Range |
|------|-------------------|
| Daily check | Yesterday |
| Quick overview | Last 7 Days |
| Trend analysis | Last 30 Days |
| Strategic review | Last 90 Days |
| Seasonal analysis | 12+ months |

### Statistical Significance

For reliable comparisons:
- Ensure sufficient traffic volume
- Use complete periods (full weeks/months)
- Consider external factors (holidays, events)

### Comparison Considerations

| Scenario | Best Comparison |
|----------|-----------------|
| Short-term trends | Previous Period |
| Seasonal business | Previous Year |
| Campaign measurement | Custom (pre-campaign) |
| General growth | Previous Period |

### Avoiding Pitfalls

| Pitfall | Solution |
|---------|----------|
| Comparing partial weeks | Use complete week presets |
| Ignoring seasonality | Use Previous Year comparison |
| Too short a range | Ensure statistical significance |
| Misreading bounce rate delta | A bounce-rate *decrease* shows in green because it's an improvement |

## Related documentation

- [Filters](/reports/filters) — The other control that scopes every report
- [Evolution Report](/reports/evolution) — See metrics change over the selected range
- [Overview Report](/reports/overview) — The high-level dashboard for all reports
- [Metrics Reference](/reports/definitions) — How deltas and comparison metrics are calculated