. Retrieved {{{1}}}.

For indicated when an external link was accessed.

{{Accessdate|~~~~~}}

produces:

. Retrieved 09:13, 18 April 2013 (UTC).

When one clicks "Save page" ~~~~~ becomes today's date & time, allowing the template to not require substitution.

There is a period and space at the beginning, allowing this template to follow templates which do not end in a period (for flexibility), without the need to add a period after the previous template. However, this template ends in a period.