Date.prototype.getFullYear() returns the full year for a date in local time (for example 1995 or 2026). It is read-only and does not change the Date.
date.getFullYear()
→ absolute year (e.g. 1969, 1995, 2026)
→ NaN (if the Date is invalid)
getFullYear() → correct modern API
getYear() → deprecated (year − 1900)
getUTCFullYear() → same idea, but UTCCall date.getFullYear. Start with this line.
date.getFullYear()| Call | What it does |
|---|---|
date.getFullYear() | Primary signature. |
date.getFullYear(...) | Call with the arguments your case needs. |
Built into JavaScript. Call getFullYear(...) on a Date instance — no import required.
date.getFullYear()This method has no parameters beyond those shown in the signature.
| Return Value | Description |
|---|---|
| * | The value returned by date.getFullYear(). |
Call getFullYear() on a fixed local date (month index is zero-based).
const moonLanding = new Date(1969, 6, 20); // Jul 20, 1969
console.log(moonLanding.getFullYear()); // 1969new Date(1969, 6, 20) is July 20, 1969 (month index 6).getFullYear() returns 1969 — the absolute year.69.Date is unchanged; getFullYear only reads.getFullYear() vs Deprecated getYear()See why the old API is misleading for modern years.
const d = new Date(2026, 2, 15);
console.log(d.getFullYear()); // 2026
console.log(d.getYear()); // 126 (deprecated)2 is March.getFullYear() → 2026.getYear() → 2026 - 1900 = 126.getFullYear(); treat getYear() as legacy only.Read “now” and build a simple copyright string.
const year = new Date().getFullYear();
const line = "© " + year + " CodeToFun";
console.log(line);
// e.g. "© 2026 CodeToFun"new Date() is the current instant.getFullYear() returns this year’s number in local time."© ", the year, and your site name.Date.prototype.getFullYear() has been in JavaScript since ES1. It is Baseline and works in every modern browser and Node.js — no polyfill needed.
Supported everywhere Date exists: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Internet Explorer, and all Node.js versions.
Bottom line: Safe to use in any environment. Prefer it over deprecated getYear(). See also the MDN getFullYear() reference.
Learn how to read the hour of the day (0–23) from a Date in local time.
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