JavaScript Date setUTCFullYear() Method

Posted in JavaScript Tutorial

Updated on Oct 06, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 40 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

Working with dates and times in JavaScript is a common task, and the setUTCFullYear() method provides a powerful way to manipulate the year component of a Date object.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the syntax, usage, best practices, and practical examples of the setUTCFullYear() method.

🧠 Understanding setUTCFullYear() Method

The setUTCFullYear() method is part of the Date object in JavaScript, allowing you to set the year value of a date object in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). It provides a straightforward way to update the year while preserving the other components of the date.

💡 Syntax

The syntax for the setUTCFullYear() method is straightforward:

syntax.js

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date.setUTCFullYear(year[, month[, day]]);

date: The Date object you want to modify.
year: The numeric value representing the year.
month (Optional): The numeric value representing the month (0-11). If not provided, the month will remain unchanged.
day (Optional): The numeric value representing the day of the month. If not provided, the day will remain unchanged.

📝 Example

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

example.js

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// Current date
const currentDate = new Date();

// Setting the year to 2023
currentDate.setUTCFullYear(2023);

console.log(currentDate.toUTCString());

In this example, the setUTCFullYear() method is used to update the year component of the currentDate object.

🏆 Best Practices

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

Input Validation:

Ensure that the input values for year, month, and day are valid numeric values to prevent unexpected behavior.

example.js

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const targetYear = 2023;
const targetMonth = 11; // December
const targetDay = 31;

if (
  Number.isInteger(targetYear) &&
  Number.isInteger(targetMonth) &&
  Number.isInteger(targetDay)
) {
  currentDate.setUTCFullYear(targetYear, targetMonth, targetDay);
} else {
  console.error('Invalid input for setUTCFullYear()');
}

UTC vs Local Time:

Be aware that setUTCFullYear() operates in UTC, so take into account any time zone adjustments if needed.

📚 Use Cases

Future Date Calculation:

You can use the setUTCFullYear() method to calculate future dates easily:

example.js

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const currentDate = new Date();
const yearsToAdd = 5;

currentDate.setUTCFullYear(currentDate.getUTCFullYear() + yearsToAdd);

console.log(currentDate.toUTCString());

Resetting Year and Month:

Resetting the year and month to a specific date:

example.js

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const currentDate = new Date();
const newYear = 2024;
const newMonth = 0; // January

currentDate.setUTCFullYear(newYear, newMonth);

console.log(currentDate.toUTCString());

🎉 Conclusion

The setUTCFullYear() method is a valuable tool for managing the year component of Date objects in JavaScript.

Whether you're setting a specific year, calculating future dates, or resetting components, by adhering to best practices and exploring diverse use cases, you can harness the full potential of the setUTCFullYear() method in your JavaScript projects.