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How to perfectly format dates in JavaScript : Ultimate guide to formatting dates in JavaScript

   October 28, 2023
Java Script @ Freshers.in

In the realm of web development, managing and presenting dates is a common task. Whether you’re crafting a scheduling app, a calendar, or just displaying timestamps on a blog post, understanding how to format dates in JavaScript is essential. Dive deep into the world of JavaScript date formatting with our comprehensive guide, complete with real-world examples.

A new Date instance, without arguments, creates an object representing the current date and time:

const currentDate = new Date();
console.log(currentDate);

Key JavaScript Date methods

getFullYear() – Returns the year of a date.

const date = new Date("2023-10-27");
const year = date.getFullYear();
console.log(year);  // Outputs: 2023

getMonth() – Returns the month of a date (0-11, where 0 is January).

const date = new Date("2023-10-27");
const month = date.getMonth();
console.log(month);  // Outputs: 9 (because October is the 10th month, but counting starts from 0)

getDate() – Returns the day of the month (1-31).

const date = new Date("2023-10-27");
const dayOfMonth = date.getDate();
console.log(dayOfMonth);  // Outputs: 27

getDay() – Returns the day of the week (0-6, where 0 is Sunday).

const date = new Date("2023-10-27");  // This is a Friday
const dayOfWeek = date.getDay();
console.log(dayOfWeek);  // Outputs: 5 (because Sunday is 0 and Friday is 5)

getHours(), getMinutes(), getSeconds(), and getMilliseconds() – Return the respective time components.

const date = new Date("2023-10-27T15:45:30.123");

// Get Hours
const hours = date.getHours();
console.log(hours);  // Outputs: 15

// Get Minutes
const minutes = date.getMinutes();
console.log(minutes);  // Outputs: 45

// Get Seconds
const seconds = date.getSeconds();
console.log(seconds);  // Outputs: 30

// Get Milliseconds
const milliseconds = date.getMilliseconds();
console.log(milliseconds);  // Outputs: 123

Formatting dates in JavaScript

Now, onto the crux of our guide — formatting dates. There isn’t a built-in method like .format() as in some languages. However, combining the above methods allows us to customize our date presentation:

Example: A common format is YYYY-MM-DD:

const today = new Date();
const formattedDate = `${today.getFullYear()}-${today.getMonth() + 1}-${today.getDate()}`;
console.log(formattedDate);

Note that we added + 1 to the month, as JavaScript months start from 0.

Output

2023-10-28

Using libraries for enhanced formatting

For more complex formatting, libraries like Moment.js come to the rescue.

Example with Moment.js:

const moment = require('moment');
console.log(moment().format('MMMM Do YYYY, h:mm:ss a'));
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