How to convert JSON results into a date using JavaScript?

JSON is a powerful data format to exchange data from server to client and vice versa. Many times JSON data is received in a String format and we need to convert it to a usable JSON object. In this process, it's an important requirement to convert string data into Date format. In this article, we will learn how to convert JSON results into a Date string using JavaScript.

The JSON objects contain the date like this ?

{
   name: "John",
   time: '/Date(1559072200000)/'
}

And the result will be ?

Wed May 29 2019 01:06:40 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time) 

Here are a few approaches to achieve this ?

  • Using string.replace method

  • Using Regex

Approach 1: Using String replace() Method

The replace method in JavaScript is used to replace a portion of a string with another string. Here are the steps to convert JSON results into a date using the String.replace method:

  • Replace the first part of the string "/Date(" with an empty string

  • Replace the last part of the string ")/" with an empty string

  • Create a new Date object by parsing the number of milliseconds from the JSON string

  • Now you got the Date and you can use it as a normal JavaScript date.

Example

In this example we are converting JSON results into a date using the String.replace() method.

<html> 
<body>
   <h2>Convert JSON results into a date using JavaScript</h2>
   <p>Click the following button to convert JSON results into a date</p>
   <button id="btn" onclick="convert()"> Click Here </button> <br>
   <h3>Input Data : </h3>
   <p id="input"> /Date(1559072200000)/ </p>
   <h3> Resulting Date: </h3>
   <p id="output"> </p>
   <script>
      function convert() {
         
         // Store the JSON date string in a variable
         var jsonDate = '/Date(1559072200000)/';
         
         // Replace the first part of the string "/Date(" with an empty string
         jsonDate = jsonDate.replace("/Date(", "");
         
         // Replace the last part of the string ")/" with an empty string
         jsonDate = jsonDate.replace(")/", "");
         
         // Create a new Date object by parsing the number of milliseconds from the JSON string
         let strDate = new Date(parseInt(jsonDate));
         
         // Get the output element in the HTML document
         let output = document.getElementById("output");
         
         // Set the inner text of the output element to the formatted date
         output.innerText = strDate;
      }
   </script>
</body>
</html>
Wed May 29 2019 01:06:40 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time)

Approach 2: Using Regex

Here are the following steps to convert JSON results into a date using regex:

  • Extract the unix timestamp from the JSON date string using regex

  • Create a new Date object by parsing the number of milliseconds from the JSON string

  • Now you got the Date and you can use it as a normal JavaScript date.

Example

<html>
<body>
   <h2>Convert JSON results into a date using JavaScript</h2>
   <p>Click the following button to convert JSON results into a date</p>
   <button id="btn" onclick="convert()"> Click Here </button> <br>
   <h3>Input Data : </h3>
   <p id="input"> /Date(1559072200000)/ </p>
   <h3> Resulting Date: </h3>
   <p id="output"> </p>
   <script>
      
      // Function to convert the JSON date format to a readable date
      function convert() {
         
         // The JSON date string in the format '/Date(unixTimestamp)/'
         var jsonDate = '/Date(1559072200000)/'; 
         
         // Extract the Unix timestamp from the JSON date string using regex
         var timestamp = jsonDate.match(/\d+/);
         
         // Create a new Date object using the unix timestamp
         let strDate = new Date(parseInt(timestamp[0]));
         
         // Get a reference to the HTML element with the id "output"
         let output = document.getElementById("output");
         output.innerText = strDate;
      }
   </script>
</body>
</html>
Wed May 29 2019 01:06:40 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time)

Comparison

Method Code Complexity Performance Readability
String.replace() Medium (two replace calls) Good High
Regex Low (one match call) Better Medium

Conclusion

Both methods effectively convert JSON date strings to JavaScript Date objects. The regex approach is more concise and performs better, while the String.replace() method is more readable for beginners. Choose based on your team's familiarity with regex patterns.

Updated on: 2026-03-15T23:19:00+05:30

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