The Date object

Learn date and time with the Date object.

The Date object

In JavaScript date and time are represented by the Date object. new Date() gives the current moment; new Date("2024-03-15") parses a specific date. In Node.js Date is global; you do not need to import it.

Dates are stored internally as milliseconds since 1 January 1970. Date.now() returns this number directly; it is fast for timing without parsing a date. The Z suffix in new Date("2024-03-15T00:00:00Z") marks UTC; the date then becomes timezone-independent. The toISOString() method returns the date as a string in the form 2024-03-15T00:00:00.000Z; this is the standard format for logs and data exchange.

Parsing dates

To parse a date from a string you use new Date("..."). Accepted formats: 2024-03-15 (date only), 2024-03-15T10:30:00 (date and time), 2024-03-15T10:30:00Z (UTC).

A non-UTC string is interpreted in the local timezone; this can give different results on different machines. When testing, always use the Z suffix to make output deterministic. The output of toISOString() is always UTC; toString() writes the local timezone and varies by zone. In this lesson we parse UTC dates and print with toISOString(); the next lesson teaches local components (getDate, getMonth).

Exercise Parse and print a date

Define a UTC date with const date = new Date("2024-03-15T00:00:00Z");. Print in ISO format with console.log(date.toISOString()).

Show example solution

const date = new Date("2024-03-15T00:00:00Z");
console.log(date.toISOString());

Test yourself

What does new Date("2024-03-15T00:00:00Z") create?
```
new Date("2024-03-15T00:00:00Z")
```
- A number
- Bir Date nesnesi
- Bir dize
- Bir dizi
Show answer

Bir Date nesnesi — new Date() returns a Date object.

Complete the Date construction

const date = new ____("2024-03-15T00:00:00Z");

Show answer

const date = new Date("2024-03-15T00:00:00Z");

Match each piece to its role

new Date()

Creates a date object
Date.now()

Gives millisecond count
toISOString()

Gives ISO-format string
"Z" suffix

Marks UTC

Next lesson: Date methods

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