How to count the number of cells with dates having a value less than the date whose value is stored in an outer cell in Excel?

Question

excel

Formula. How to count the number of cells with dates having a value less than the date whose value is stored in an outer cell in Excel?
Here's what I found: COUNTIF(range; "<01.10.18") - this formula works, but how to take the date value from any cell in this case?
Give examples please.

Answer 1

"<01.10.18" replace with "<"&cell reference.
For example COUNTIF(range; "<"&A1)