Date.prototype.getUTCSeconds() returns the seconds of a date as an integer 0–59 according to universal time (UTC). It is read-only and does not change the Date.
date.getUTCSeconds()
0 = start of the UTC minute
4 = MDN moon-landing sample
59 = last second of the UTC minute
→ integer 0 … 59
→ NaN if the Date is invalid
getUTCSeconds() → UTC seconds (0–59)
getSeconds() → local seconds (0–59)Call date.getUTCSeconds. Start with this line.
date.getUTCSeconds()| Call | What it does |
|---|---|
date.getUTCSeconds() | Primary signature. |
date.getUTCSeconds(...) | Call with the arguments your case needs. |
Built into JavaScript. Call getUTCSeconds(...) on a Date instance — no import required.
date.getUTCSeconds()| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Padding | Optional. Use padStart(2, "0") for :04-style display |
| Return Value | Description |
|---|---|
| * | The value returned by date.getUTCSeconds(). |
Read UTC seconds from the classic Apollo 11 timestamp.
const moonLanding = new Date("July 20, 1969, 20:18:04 UTC");
console.log(moonLanding.getUTCSeconds()); // 4UTC suffix pins the instant to universal time.getUTCSeconds() returns the seconds part: 4.0–59.moonLanding.Date.UTCConstruct UTC dates and read the second component at the edges.
const mid = new Date(Date.UTC(2026, 0, 1, 12, 0, 45));
const end = new Date(Date.UTC(2026, 0, 1, 12, 0, 59));
console.log(mid.getUTCSeconds()); // 45
console.log(end.getUTCSeconds()); // 59Date.UTC. Arguments are year, month index, day, hour, minute, second (UTC).new Date(...). That stores one absolute instant.getUTCSeconds() returns 45 and 59.0 — same rule as the local constructor.getUTCSeconds() vs getSeconds()Both return 0–59, but one uses UTC fields and the other uses local fields.
const d = new Date(Date.UTC(2026, 0, 1, 12, 0, 45));
console.log(d.getUTCSeconds()); // 45
console.log(d.getSeconds()); // often 45 (offset is usually whole minutes)
console.log(typeof d.getUTCSeconds()); // "number"getUTCSeconds() always reads universal-time seconds.getSeconds() follows the host timezone.Date.prototype.getUTCSeconds() is part of the language from early ECMAScript and is Baseline Widely available (MDN).
Supported in every modern browser and Node.js. No polyfill needed for ordinary web apps.
Bottom line: Safe everywhere. Focus on choosing UTC vs local getters correctly rather than feature detection.
Learn how to read the current milliseconds since the Unix epoch.
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