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How to return a string representing the source for an equivalent Date object?
The toSource() method was a non-standard JavaScript method that returned a string representing the source code of a Date object. However, this method has been deprecated and removed from modern browsers.
The Deprecated toSource() Method
The toSource() method was originally available in Firefox but was never part of the ECMAScript standard. It would return a string that could theoretically recreate the Date object:
// This method is deprecated and no longer works var dt = new Date(2018, 0, 15, 14, 39, 7); // dt.toSource() would have returned: (new Date(1516022347000))
Modern Alternatives
Since toSource() is no longer available, here are the recommended alternatives to get Date object information:
Using toString() Method
<html>
<head>
<title>Date toString() Method</title>
</head>
<body>
<script>
var dt = new Date(2018, 0, 15, 14, 39, 7);
document.write("Date String: " + dt.toString());
</script>
</body>
</html>
Date String: Mon Jan 15 2018 14:39:07 GMT+0000 (UTC)
Using getTime() for Timestamp
<html>
<head>
<title>Date getTime() Method</title>
</head>
<body>
<script>
var dt = new Date(2018, 0, 15, 14, 39, 7);
var timestamp = dt.getTime();
document.write("Timestamp: " + timestamp + "<br>");
document.write("Recreate: new Date(" + timestamp + ")");
</script>
</body>
</html>
Timestamp: 1516026547000 Recreate: new Date(1516026547000)
Using JSON.stringify() for Serialization
<html>
<head>
<title>Date JSON Serialization</title>
</head>
<body>
<script>
var dt = new Date(2018, 0, 15, 14, 39, 7);
document.write("JSON: " + JSON.stringify(dt));
</script>
</body>
</html>
JSON: "2018-01-15T14:39:07.000Z"
Comparison of Methods
| Method | Output Format | Recreatable | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
toSource() |
Constructor syntax | Yes | Deprecated |
toString() |
Human-readable | No | Standard |
getTime() |
Timestamp | Yes | Standard |
JSON.stringify() |
ISO string | Yes | Standard |
Conclusion
The toSource() method is deprecated and should not be used. For getting Date object information, use getTime() for timestamps or toString() for readable strings in modern JavaScript applications.
Updated on: 2026-03-15T23:18:59+05:30
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