How to remove Time from Date TypeScript?

When working with date objects in TypeScript, sometimes it's necessary to extract only the date and remove the time component from it. This can be useful when displaying dates in a user interface or comparing dates. In this tutorial, we will explore several ways to remove time from date in TypeScript.

Syntax

const dateWithoutTime = date.toLocaleDateString();
const dateWithoutTime = date.toISOString().split('T')[0];

The above is the syntax of two different typescript methods for removing time from date. The first method uses the toLocaleDateString() method. The second method uses this string () method.

Example 1: Using the toLocaleDateString() Method

const date = new Date();
const dateWithoutTime = date.toLocaleDateString();
console.log(dateWithoutTime);

The toLocaleDateString() method returns a string representing the date portion of the Date object in the local time zone. It does not include the time portion. By default, it returns a string in the format "MM/DD/YYYY" (e.g., "05/05/2023").

Output

On compiling, it will generate the same JavaScript code as above. The JavaScript code will produce the following output −

5/18/2023

One benefit of using this method is its simplicity. The date in the desired format can be easily retrieved by calling the toLocaleDateString() method on a Date object. Another benefit is that it automatically adjusts to the local time zone, which can be helpful when working with dates across different time zones.

However, one potential drawback of this method is that the output format depends on the user's locale settings. If you need to display the date in a specific format, you may need to manually format the string yourself.

Example 2: Using the ToISOString() Method

const date = new Date();
const dateWithoutTime = date.toISOString().split('T')[0];
console.log(dateWithoutTime);

The toISOString() method returns a string representing the Date object in ISO format (e.g., "YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ss.sssZ"). We can split this string at the "T" character to get only the date portion.

var date = new Date();
var dateWithoutTime = date.toISOString().split('T')[0];
console.log(dateWithoutTime);

Output

On compiling, it will generate the same JavaScript code as above. The JavaScript code will produce the following output −

2023-05-18

One advantage of this method is that the output format is standardized and does not depend on the user's locale settings. This can be useful when displaying the date in a specific format. Additionally, the ISO format is widely recognized and can be easily parsed by other systems.

However, one potential disadvantage of using this method is that the output string includes the time zone offset, which may or may not be desirable depending on your use case.

Example 3: Using the SetHours() Method

const date = new Date();
date.setHours(0,0,0,0);
const dateWithoutTime = date.toDateString();
console.log(dateWithoutTime);

The setHours() method can be used to set the time component of the Date object to zero. This effectively removes the time component, leaving only the date. The toDateString() method is then used to convert the Date object to a string in the format "ddd MMM DD YYYY" (e.g., "Thu May 05 2023").

var date = new Date();
date.setHours(0, 0, 0, 0);
var dateWithoutTime = date.toDateString();
console.log(dateWithoutTime);

Output

On compiling, it will generate the same JavaScript code as above. The JavaScript code will produce the following output −

Thu May 18 2023

One advantage of this method is that it offers more flexibility than the previous two methods. With setHours(), you can set any time component to zero, not just the hours, which can be useful if you need to remove minutes or seconds as well. Additionally, the toDateString() method returns a standardized format that does not depend on the user's locale settings.

However, one potential disadvantage of this method is that modifying the Date object with setHours() changes the original object. If you need to keep the original Date object unchanged, you must create a new Date object with the modified values.

Conclusion

In summary, there are several ways to remove time from a Date object in TypeScript. The toLocaleDateString() method is the simplest and most straightforward, but the other methods can be useful in certain situations. Depending on your specific use case, you may need to consider the output format, time zone, or whether you need to modify the original Date object. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each method, you can choose the best approach for your particular situation.