JavaScript Date getUTCFullYear() Method

Posted in JavaScript Tutorial

Updated on Oct 06, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 34 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

In JavaScript, the Date object provides various methods for working with dates and times. One such method is getUTCFullYear(), which allows you to retrieve the year of a date in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

In this guide, we'll explore the getUTCFullYear() method, covering its syntax, usage, best practices, and practical examples.

🧠 Understanding getUTCFullYear() Method

The getUTCFullYear() method is used to obtain the year of a date according to UTC, regardless of the time zone settings on the local machine.

💡 Syntax

The syntax for the getUTCFullYear() method is straightforward:

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date.getUTCFullYear();

date: The Date object from which you want to retrieve the year.

📝 Example

Let's dive into a simple example to illustrate the usage of the getUTCFullYear() method:

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// Creating a new Date object
const today = new Date();

// Using getUTCFullYear() to retrieve the year in UTC
const yearInUTC = today.getUTCFullYear();

console.log(`Current year in UTC: ${yearInUTC}`);

In this example, the getUTCFullYear() method is applied to the Date object today to obtain the current year in Coordinated Universal Time.

🏆 Best Practices

When working with the getUTCFullYear() method, consider the following best practices:

Understand UTC vs. Local Time:

Be aware that the getUTCFullYear() method returns the year in Coordinated Universal Time, which may differ from the local time.
example.js
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```
const localYear = today.getFullYear();
const utcYear = today.getUTCFullYear();

console.log(`Local year: ${localYear}`);
console.log(`UTC year: ${utcYear}`);
```
Use UTC Methods for Consistency:

If working with UTC dates and times, consider using the corresponding UTC methods (e.g., getUTCFullYear(), getUTCMonth(), etc.) for consistency.

📚 Use Cases

Displaying UTC Year in a Web Application:

In scenarios where it's crucial to display the UTC year in a web application, the getUTCFullYear() method becomes essential:

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// Assuming you have a date string in UTC format
const utcDateString = "2024-02-26T12:00:00Z";
const utcDate = new Date(utcDateString);

const utcYear = utcDate.getUTCFullYear();
console.log(`UTC Year: ${utcYear}`);

Calculating Time Differences:

The getUTCFullYear() method is valuable when calculating time differences between dates, ensuring consistency across various time zones.

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const startDate = new Date("2024-01-01T00:00:00Z");
const endDate = new Date();  // Current date

const yearsDifference = endDate.getUTCFullYear() - startDate.getUTCFullYear();

console.log(`Years Difference: ${yearsDifference}`);

🎉 Conclusion

The getUTCFullYear() method in JavaScript's Date object provides a straightforward way to retrieve the year in Coordinated Universal Time.

By adhering to best practices and exploring diverse use cases, you can harness the full potential of the getUTCFullYear() method in your JavaScript projects.