JavaScript Date Methods

Beginner

6 min read

Updated: Nov 2026

46 method guides

Method index

Index

About This Index

This page is the JavaScript Date Methods index for the tutorial track. Each row links to a full guide with syntax, examples, and FAQs.

Learn what a Date is on /js/date. Use this page when you need a specific API such as getFullYear(), getMonth(), or toISOString().

Beginner path.

Start with getFullYear(), getMonth(), toISOString(), and Date.now()—then browse local getters, UTC methods, and setters.

Syntax

How to Call a Date Method

Instance methods use a dot; static helpers use Date:

JavaScript

const birthday = new Date(2026, 0, 15);

// Instance (Date.prototype)
birthday.getFullYear();   // 2026
birthday.getMonth();      // 0
birthday.toISOString();   // UTC string

// Static (on Date)
Date.now();                              // current ms
Date.UTC(2026, 0, 15);                   // UTC timestamp
Date.parse("2026-01-15T00:00:00.000Z");  // ms or NaN

Browse

JavaScript Date Methods Table

All method guides in this JavaScript tutorial series (46 tutorials).

Getting Started

4 methods

Create timestamps and read core Date concepts first.

Method	Description	Tutorial
`Date.now()`	Returns the current timestamp in milliseconds since the Unix epoch.	Open
`Date.parse()`	Parses a date string and returns milliseconds since 1 Jan 1970 UTC, or NaN if invalid.	Open
`Date.UTC()`	Builds a UTC timestamp from year, month, day, and optional time parts.	Open
`getTime()`	Returns milliseconds since 1 Jan 1970 UTC — the internal timestamp.	Open

Local Getters

9 methods

Read date and time parts in the user's local timezone.

Method	Description	Tutorial
`getDate()`	Returns the day of the month (1–31) in local time.	Open
`getDay()`	Returns the day of the week (0 = Sunday … 6 = Saturday) in local time.	Open
`getFullYear()`	Returns the four-digit year in local time.	Open
`getMonth()`	Returns the month index (0 = January … 11 = December) in local time.	Open
`getHours()`	Returns the hour (0–23) in local time.	Open
`getMinutes()`	Returns the minutes (0–59) in local time.	Open
`getSeconds()`	Returns the seconds (0–59) in local time.	Open
`getMilliseconds()`	Returns the milliseconds portion (0–999) in local time.	Open
`getTimezoneOffset()`	Returns local offset from UTC in minutes (positive west of UTC).	Open

UTC Getters

8 methods

Read components in Coordinated Universal Time.

Method	Description	Tutorial
`getUTCDate()`	Returns the day of the month (1–31) in UTC.	Open
`getUTCDay()`	Returns the day of the week (0–6) in UTC.	Open
`getUTCFullYear()`	Returns the four-digit year in UTC.	Open
`getUTCMonth()`	Returns the month index (0–11) in UTC.	Open
`getUTCHours()`	Returns the hour (0–23) in UTC.	Open
`getUTCMinutes()`	Returns minutes (0–59) in UTC.	Open
`getUTCSeconds()`	Returns seconds (0–59) in UTC.	Open
`getUTCMilliseconds()`	Returns milliseconds (0–999) in UTC.	Open

Local Setters

8 methods

Change date and time parts in local time (mutates the object).

Method	Description	Tutorial
`setDate()`	Sets the day of the month in local time; mutates the Date object.	Open
`setFullYear()`	Sets the year (and optionally month and date) in local time.	Open
`setMonth()`	Sets the month index in local time; may roll the day if needed.	Open
`setHours()`	Sets the hour and optionally minutes, seconds, and ms in local time.	Open
`setMinutes()`	Sets minutes and optionally seconds and ms in local time.	Open
`setSeconds()`	Sets seconds and optionally milliseconds in local time.	Open
`setMilliseconds()`	Sets the milliseconds component in local time.	Open
`setTime()`	Sets the date from a millisecond timestamp since the epoch.	Open

UTC Setters

7 methods

Change components in UTC.

Method	Description	Tutorial
`setUTCDate()`	Sets the day of the month in UTC.	Open
`setUTCFullYear()`	Sets the year in UTC, optionally with month and date.	Open
`setUTCMonth()`	Sets the month index in UTC.	Open
`setUTCHours()`	Sets the hour in UTC, optionally with minutes, seconds, and ms.	Open
`setUTCMinutes()`	Sets minutes in UTC, optionally seconds and ms.	Open
`setUTCSeconds()`	Sets seconds in UTC, optionally milliseconds.	Open
`setUTCMilliseconds()`	Sets the milliseconds component in UTC.	Open

Formatting & Conversion

10 methods

Turn Date objects into strings for display or APIs.

Method	Description	Tutorial
`toISOString()`	Returns an ISO 8601 UTC string — ideal for APIs and JSON.	Open
`toLocaleString()`	Formats date and time using locale-specific rules.	Open
`toLocaleDateString()`	Formats the date portion using locale-specific rules.	Open
`toLocaleTimeString()`	Formats the time portion using locale-specific rules.	Open
`toDateString()`	Returns a human-readable date string (weekday, month, day, year).	Open
`toTimeString()`	Returns a human-readable time string with timezone info.	Open
`toUTCString()`	Returns a UTC date/time string in HTTP-style format.	Open
`toString()`	Returns a default string representation of the date and time.	Open
`toJSON()`	Returns an ISO string; used when JSON.stringify serializes a Date.	Open
`valueOf()`	Returns the primitive millisecond timestamp (same as getTime()).	Open

Frequently Asked Questions

What are JavaScript Date methods?

Date methods read or change a moment, or format it as text. Instance methods such as getFullYear(), getMonth(), and toISOString() use a dot on a Date. Static methods use Date itself: Date.now(), Date.parse(), and Date.UTC().

How is this page different from /js/date?

The Date page teaches what a Date is—new Date(), zero-based months, UTC, and mutable setters. This Methods index lists every method tutorial so you can open getFullYear(), toISOString(), and the rest.

How do I call a Date method?

Instance methods use a dot: birthday.getFullYear(), birthday.toISOString(). Static methods use Date: Date.now(), Date.parse("2026-01-15T00:00:00Z").

Do setters change the original Date?

Yes. setDate(), setMonth(), and the other setters mutate that object and return the new millisecond timestamp. Copy with new Date(date.getTime()) before you change a second value.

Where should I start?

If you are new, read JavaScript Date first. Then open getFullYear(), getMonth(), toISOString(), and Date.now() from the tables below.

Start with Date.now()

Open the timestamp guide—syntax, examples, and FAQs.

Date.now() tutorial →

About the author

Mari Selvan M P 🔗

Developer, cloud engineer, and technical writer

Experience 12 years building web and cloud systems
Focus Full Stack Development, AWS, and Developer Education

I write practical tutorials so students and working developers can learn by doing—from databases and APIs to deployment on AWS.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate (Credly)

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