Using Smart Values

Smart Values calculate a field value when the rule runs: a date relative to today, the user filling in the form, or the value of another field on the same screen.

Use Smart Values with the Set Field Value action on date, date-time and user fields, and on Labels.

What Are Smart Values?

Smart Values are expressions that evaluate to a value at runtime, rather than using a fixed date or user.

Example comparison:

Static value:

Set Due Date = 2026-03-15

Always sets March 15, 2026. Never changes.

Smart Value:

Set Due Date = {{addDays(today(), 7)}}

Calculates 7 days from today when the rule runs. Adapts to the current date.

Where You Can Use Smart Values

The value input of the Set Field Value action offers Smart Values for these target fields:

Target field	Smart Values offered
Due Date, Date Picker custom fields	Date functions, `field()`
Date Time Picker custom fields	Date functions, `field()`
Assignee, Reporter, User Picker, Multi User Picker	`currentUser()`, `field()`
Labels	`field()`

Other fields that Set Field Value supports (Summary, Description, text, URL and number fields, Priority, Issue Type, multi-select, checkboxes, cascading select) take a fixed value. See Set Field Value for the full list of fields it can set.

How to Write a Smart Value

A Smart Value is one expression in double curly braces:

{{today().plusBusinessDays(3)}}

An expression is built from function calls only:

Function names with parentheses, for example today()
Arguments separated by commas: other functions, whole numbers, or text in quotes, for example addDays(today(), 5) or field("duedate")
.plusBusinessDays(days) after a date

Expressions have no operators (+, -, *, /, =, >), no if() and no negative numbers. To count back from a date, use subtractBusinessDays() or yesterday(). To pick a different value depending on the situation, create one Set Field Value rule per value and give each rule its own conditions.

Date Functions

All date functions work in UTC. today() is the current date in UTC, which can differ from your local date shortly before or after midnight. A date field receives the date only; a date-time field receives the date and time.

Current Date/Time Functions

`now()`

Returns: Current date and time

Example:

{{now()}}
→ 2026-02-01 14:30

`today()`

Returns: Today's date (start of the day)

Example:

{{today()}}
→ 2026-02-01

`yesterday()`

Returns: Yesterday's date

Example:

{{yesterday()}}
→ 2026-01-31

`tomorrow()`

Returns: Tomorrow's date

Example:

{{tomorrow()}}
→ 2026-02-02

`nextWeek()`

Returns: The date 7 days from today

Example:

{{nextWeek()}}
→ 2026-02-08 (7 days from today)

`nextMonth()`

Returns: The same day next month

Example:

{{nextMonth()}}
→ 2026-03-01

`startOfWeek()`

Returns: Monday of the current week

Example:

{{startOfWeek()}}
→ 2026-01-26 (this Monday)

`endOfWeek()`

Returns: Sunday of the current week

Example:

{{endOfWeek()}}
→ 2026-02-01 (this Sunday)

`endOfMonth()`

Returns: The last day of the current month

Example:

{{endOfMonth()}}
→ 2026-02-28

`startOfDay(date)`

Parameters:

date - A date value

Returns: The start (midnight UTC) of the given date

Example:

{{startOfDay(now())}}
→ 2026-02-01 00:00

Date Arithmetic Functions

`addDays(date, days)`

Parameters:

date - A date value
days - Number of calendar days to add

Returns: The date with the given number of days added

Example:

{{addDays(today(), 5)}}
→ 2026-02-06 (5 days from today)

`addWeeks(date, weeks)`

Parameters:

date - A date value
weeks - Number of weeks to add (7 days each)

Returns: The date with the given number of weeks added

Example:

{{addWeeks(today(), 2)}}
→ 2026-02-15 (14 days from today)

`subtractBusinessDays(date, days)`

Parameters:

date - A date value
days - Number of business days to subtract

Returns: The date with the given number of business days subtracted, skipping Saturdays and Sundays

Example:

{{subtractBusinessDays(today(), 3)}}
→ 2026-01-28 (3 business days ago, skipping the weekend)

Date Methods

`date.plusBusinessDays(days)`

Parameters:

days - Number of business days to add

Returns: The date with the given number of business days added, skipping Saturdays and Sundays

Note: Business days are Monday to Friday. Write it after a date, for example after today() or now().

Example:

{{today().plusBusinessDays(3)}}
→ 2026-02-04 (3 business days from today)

{{now().plusBusinessDays(5)}}
→ 2026-02-06 14:30 (5 business days from now)

Field Functions

`field(fieldId)`

Parameters:

fieldId - Field ID or system name in quotes, for example "duedate", "assignee" or "customfield_10001"

Returns: The current value of that field on the same screen

Example:

{{field("duedate")}}
→ The Due Date entered on the form

{{field("customfield_10001")}}
→ The value of that custom field

Common field names:

duedate - Due Date
assignee - Assignee
reporter - Reporter
labels - Labels
customfield_XXXXX - Custom fields (use the field ID)

Copy between fields of the same kind: a date into a date field, a user into a user field. If the source field is not on the screen or is empty, the rule leaves the target field unchanged.

User Functions

`currentUser()`

Returns: The user filling in the form

Example:

{{currentUser()}}
→ The person creating or transitioning the work item

Use case: Set Assignee, Reporter or a user picker field to the current user

Practical Examples

Date Examples

Set due date to 7 days from now:

{{addDays(today(), 7)}}

Set review date to 3 business days from today:

{{today().plusBusinessDays(3)}}

Set start date to the beginning of the current week:

{{startOfWeek()}}

Set deadline to the last day of the current month:

{{endOfMonth()}}

Field Reference Examples

Copy a date from another date field on the screen:

{{field("customfield_10015")}}

Copy the Assignee into a user picker field:

{{field("assignee")}}

User Examples

Set Assignee to the current user:

{{currentUser()}}

Combining Smart Values

Functions can take other functions as arguments.

Due date 5 business days from now:

{{today().plusBusinessDays(5)}}

Start date at the beginning of next week:

{{addWeeks(startOfWeek(), 1)}}

Date 3 business days before the due date entered on the form:

{{subtractBusinessDays(field("duedate"), 3)}}

Using Smart Values in Rules

Configuration Steps

Create a rule with the Set Field Value action on a date, date-time or user field, or on Labels
Click Use smart values next to the value input
Type the expression, or click the curly-brackets button and pick one from the Smart Values list
Save and test the rule

To go back to a fixed value, click Pick a date (date fields), Select user or Select users (user fields).

Example Rule

Requirement: Set Due Date to 3 business days from today when creating Bug issues

Configuration:

Screen: Global Issue Create
Target Field: Due Date
Scope: Bug issue type
Action: Set Field Value
Value: {{today().plusBusinessDays(3)}}

Result: When creating a Bug, Due Date auto-fills with today + 3 business days.

Due Date can be set on the create screen only, and field("duedate") reads it there only: in transition dialogs Jira doesn't let apps work with Due Date.

Best Practices

Use descriptive expressions: Choose the function that states the intent, for example today().plusBusinessDays(5) for "five working days"

Test with different dates: Verify Smart Values work correctly across month/year boundaries

Account for weekends: Use business day functions when working days matter

Check field IDs: Make sure the field you reference with field() is on the same screen and holds the same kind of value as the target field

One value per rule: When the value depends on the situation, use several rules with different conditions instead of one expression

Error Handling

If a Smart Value can't be calculated:

The field is not set and keeps its current value
The rule does not prevent form submission
Check the expression for typos, missing quotes or a missing closing parenthesis

Common issues:

Referencing a field that is not on the screen with field()
Invalid field IDs
Incorrect function names or parameters
Operators or negative numbers in the expression

Next Steps

Learn about actions:

Defining Actions - All seven actions including Set Field Value

See examples:

Pre-filling Values - Real-world Smart Value applications

Understand conditions:

Defining Rule Conditions - Combine Smart Values with conditions

Ready to create rules with Smart Values? Start with Creating Your First Rule.

What Are Smart Values?​

Where You Can Use Smart Values​

How to Write a Smart Value​

Date Functions​

Current Date/Time Functions​

now()​

today()​

yesterday()​

tomorrow()​

Date Navigation Functions​

nextWeek()​

nextMonth()​

startOfWeek()​

endOfWeek()​

endOfMonth()​

startOfDay(date)​

Date Arithmetic Functions​

addDays(date, days)​

addWeeks(date, weeks)​

subtractBusinessDays(date, days)​

Date Methods​

date.plusBusinessDays(days)​

Field Functions​

field(fieldId)​

User Functions​

currentUser()​

Practical Examples​

Date Examples​

Field Reference Examples​

User Examples​

Combining Smart Values​

Using Smart Values in Rules​

Configuration Steps​

Example Rule​

Best Practices​

Error Handling​

Next Steps​

What Are Smart Values?

Where You Can Use Smart Values

How to Write a Smart Value

Date Functions

Current Date/Time Functions

`now()`

`today()`

`yesterday()`

`tomorrow()`

Date Navigation Functions

`nextWeek()`

`nextMonth()`

`startOfWeek()`

`endOfWeek()`

`endOfMonth()`

`startOfDay(date)`

Date Arithmetic Functions

`addDays(date, days)`

`addWeeks(date, weeks)`

`subtractBusinessDays(date, days)`

Date Methods

`date.plusBusinessDays(days)`

Field Functions

`field(fieldId)`

User Functions

`currentUser()`

Practical Examples

Date Examples

Field Reference Examples

User Examples

Combining Smart Values

Using Smart Values in Rules

Configuration Steps

Example Rule

Best Practices

Error Handling

Next Steps