In finance, a day count convention determines how interest accrues over time for a variety of investments, including bonds, notes, loans, mortgages, medium-term notes, swaps, and forward rate agreements (FRAs). This determines the number of days between two coupon payments, thus calculating the amount transferred on payment dates and also the accrued interest for dates between payments. The day count is also used to quantify periods of time when discounting a cash-flow to its present value. When a security such as a bond is sold between interest payment dates, the seller is eligible to some fraction of the coupon amount. The day count convention is used in many other formulas in financial mathematics as well. Development The need for day count conventions is a direct consequence of interest-earning investments. Different conventions were developed to address often conflicting requirements, including ease of calculation, constancy of time period (day, month, or year) and the needs of the accounting department. This development occurred long before the advent of computers. There is no central authority defining day count conventions, so there is no standard terminology, however the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) and the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) have done work gathering and documenting conventions. Certain terms, such as "30/360", "Actual/Actual", and "money market basis" must be understood in the context of the particular market. The conventions have evolved, and this is particularly true since the mid-1990s. Part of it has simply been providing for additional cases or clarification. There has also been a move towards convergence in the marketplace, which has resulted in the number of conventions in use being reduced. Much of this has been driven by the introduction of the euro. Definitions Interest Amount of interest accrued on an investment. CouponFactor The Factor to be used when determining the amount of interest paid by the issuer on coupon payment dates. The periods may be regular or irregular. CouponRate The interest rate on the security or loan-type agreement, e.g., 5.25%. In the formulas this would be expressed as 0.0525. Date1 (Y1.M1.D1) Starting date for the accrual. It is usually the coupon payment date preceding Date2. Date2 (Y2.M2.D2) Date through which interest is being accrued. You could word this as the "to" date, with Date1 as the "from" date. For a bond trade, it is the settlement date of the trade. Date3 (Y3.M3.D3) Is the next coupon payment date, usually it