JavaScript - Get Date Methods

Get Date Methods

JavaScript utilizes the Date object for date and time manipulation. This object offers an array of methods that facilitate retrieval and modification of date-specific information. Here, we will discuss about the get date methods within JavaScript which fetch different components of the date/time.

Below is a table of the most commonly used get date methods and their corresponding description.

Examples

Example 1: Simple demonstration of get date methods

The following example demonstrates the fundamental application of prevalent JavaScript date methods: It instantiates a novel Date object to represent the present date and time; subsequently, it exhibits an array of diverse components - year, month, day; hours, minutes, seconds, milliseconds; along with their corresponding UTC counterparts. The displayed elements encompass not only standard temporal divisions but also supplementary information about weekdays: thus providing comprehensive insight into current temporal dynamics.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
   <title> Exxample to demonstrate get date methods in JavaScript</title>
</head>
<body>
   <script>
      // Create a new Date object
      const currentDate = new Date();

      function displayResult(methodName, result) {
         const resultDiv = document.createElement('div');
         resultDiv.innerHTML = `${methodName}: ${result}`;
         document.body.appendChild(resultDiv);
      }

      displayResult('getFullYear()', currentDate.getFullYear());
      displayResult('getMonth()', currentDate.getMonth());
      displayResult('getDate()', currentDate.getDate());
      displayResult('getHours()', currentDate.getHours());
      displayResult('getMinutes()', currentDate.getMinutes());
      displayResult('getSeconds()', currentDate.getSeconds());
      displayResult('getMilliseconds()', currentDate.getMilliseconds());
      displayResult('getDay()', currentDate.getDay());
      displayResult('getUTCFullYear()', currentDate.getUTCFullYear());
      displayResult('getUTCMonth()', currentDate.getUTCMonth());
      displayResult('getUTCDate()', currentDate.getUTCDate());
      displayResult('getUTCHours()', currentDate.getUTCHours());
      displayResult('getUTCMinutes()', currentDate.getUTCMinutes());
      displayResult('getUTCSeconds()', currentDate.getUTCSeconds());
      displayResult('getUTCMilliseconds()', currentDate.getUTCMilliseconds());
   </script>
</body>
</html>

Example 2: Comparison of two dates

In this example, the Date constructor creates two specific dates: date1 and date2. The script subsequently compares these dates; it displays their formatted representations, along with a message indicating if date1 is later, earlier or equal to date2.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
   <title>Comparison of two dates in JavaScript</title>
</head>
<body>
   <script>
      const date1 = new Date(2024, 0, 18);
      const date2 = new Date(2024, 0, 26);

      function displayComparison() {
         const date1Div = document.createElement('div');
         date1Div.innerHTML = `Date 1: ${date1.toDateString()}`;
         document.body.appendChild(date1Div);

         const date2Div = document.createElement('div');
         date2Div.innerHTML = `Date 2: ${date2.toDateString()}`;
         document.body.appendChild(date2Div);

         const resultDiv = document.createElement('div');
         if (date1 > date2) {
            resultDiv.innerHTML = "date 1 is later than date 2";
         } else if (date1 < date2) {
            resultDiv.innerHTML = "date 1 is earlier than date 2";
         } else {
            resultDiv.innerHTML = "Both dates are equal";
         }
         document.body.appendChild(resultDiv);
      }

      displayComparison();
   </script>
</body>
</html>