Mastering Dates in JavaScript: A Review of 7 Essential Libraries

The Problem with Native JavaScript Dates

JavaScript’s built-in Date object is not equipped to handle the complexities of date manipulation. It lacks high-level support for internationalization, time zones, and other essential features. This is where third-party libraries come in, providing a layer of abstraction to make working with dates a breeze.

Essential Date Libraries for JavaScript

In this article, we’ll explore seven of the most popular date libraries for JavaScript, examining their features, strengths, and weaknesses.

1. Moment.js: The Oldest and Most Popular

Moment.js is a veteran in the date library space, with a rich ecosystem of plugins and a massive user base. It offers a robust API, support for over 20 locales, and a plugin ecosystem that includes Twitter-style time formatting and parse format plugins.

const moment = require('moment');
console.log(moment().format('MMMM Do YYYY, h:mm:ss a')); // July 12th 2023, 10:30:00 am

2. Date-fns: The Lodash of Date Libraries

Date-fns is often referred to as the Lodash of date libraries, providing a modular, functional approach to date manipulation. It boasts an extensive API with over 140 functions, immutable date objects, and support for 57 locales.

import { format } from 'date-fns';
const date = new Date(2023, 6, 12, 10, 30, 0);
console.log(format(date, 'MMMM do yyyy, h:mm:ss aa')); // July 12th 2023, 10:30:00 am

3. Luxon: The Modern Alternative

Luxon is a modern take on date libraries, built on top of the Intl API from modern browsers. It offers immutable objects, internationalization support, and a more streamlined API than Moment.js. However, it still lags behind in terms of feature support.

import { DateTime } from 'luxon';
const dateTime = DateTime.fromObject({ year: 2023, month: 7, day: 12, hour: 10, minute: 30, second: 0 });
console.log(dateTime.toLocaleString()); // 7/12/2023, 10:30:00 AM

4. DayJS: The Lightweight Champion

DayJS is a minified version of Moment.js, claiming to offer the same API with a 97% reduction in file size. It supports internationalization, plugins, and has a growing user base. If you’re looking for a lightweight alternative to Moment.js, DayJS is worth considering.

const dayjs = require('dayjs');
console.log(dayjs().format('MMMM D, YYYY h:mm:ss A')); // July 12th, 2023 10:30:00 AM

5. ms: The Millisecond Master

ms is a specialized library that converts dates to milliseconds and back. It may not be a full-fledged date library, but it’s incredibly useful for specific use cases, such as date comparisons and arithmetic operations.

const ms = require('ms');
console.log(ms('1 hour')); // 3600000

6. js-joda: The Java-Inspired Alternative

js-joda is a general-purpose date library that implements its own logic from scratch, avoiding the wrapper approach used by Moment.js. It offers immutability, domain-specific classes, and extensibility through custom objects.

import { LocalDateTime } from 'js-joda';
const localDateTime = LocalDateTime.of(2023, 7, 12, 10, 30, 0);
console.log(localDateTime.toString()); // 2023-07-12T10:30:00

7. Spacetime: The Timezone Expert

Spacetime is a timezone-focused library that provides a Moment.js-like API with immutable objects. It’s particularly useful for dealing with timezones, daylight saving times, and internationalization.

const spacetime = require('spacetime');
const datetime = spacetime('2023-07-12 10:30:00', 'America/New_York');
console.log(datetime.format('{date} {time} {zone}')); // July 12th 2023 10:30:00 EDT

Choosing the Right Date Library

When it comes to choosing a date library, consider your specific needs. If you need a robust, feature-rich solution, Moment.js or Date-fns might be the way to go. For a lightweight alternative, DayJS is a great option. And if you’re dealing with timezones, Spacetime is the perfect choice. Whichever library you choose, make sure to explore its features and limitations to ensure it meets your project’s requirements.

• Moment.js: Robust, feature-rich, and widely adopted
• Date-fns: Modular, functional, and extensive API
• Luxon: Modern, streamlined, and internationalization-focused
• DayJS: Lightweight, minified, and plugin-supported
• ms: Specialized for millisecond conversions and arithmetic
• js-joda: General-purpose, immutable, and extensible
• Spacetime: Timezone-focused, immutable, and internationalization-friendly