JavaScript's Date object allows you to manipulate dates and times using several set methods.
These methods let you update various parts of a date, such as the year, month, day, hour, minute, second, and even milliseconds.
This tutorial will go over the different set methods available in the Date object with practical code examples.
Table of Contents
1. Creating a Date Object
Before using the set methods, you need to have a Date object. You can create a Date object representing the current date and time or a specific date.
Example 1: Creating a Date Object
// Current date and time const date = new Date(); console.log(date); // Output: Current date and time // Specific date and time (Year, Month (0-based), Day, Hours, Minutes, Seconds) const specificDate = new Date(2024, 9, 6, 14, 30, 0); // October 6, 2024, 14:30:00 console.log(specificDate); // Output: Sun Oct 06 2024 14:30:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
2. setFullYear() Method
The setFullYear() method sets the year for a Date object. You can also optionally specify the month (0-11) and day (1-31).
Example 2: Using setFullYear()
const date = new Date(); console.log(date); // Output: Current date date.setFullYear(2025); console.log(date); // Output: Date with the updated year (e.g., 'Sun Oct 06 2025 ...') // Set year, month (0-based), and day date.setFullYear(2023, 0, 15); // January 15, 2023 console.log(date); // Output: 'Sun Jan 15 2023 ...'
Explanation: The method allows you to change just the year or the year, month, and day simultaneously.
3. setMonth() Method
The setMonth() method sets the month of a Date object. It takes a zero-based index (0 for January, 11 for December) and can optionally set the day of the month.
Example 3: Using setMonth()
const date = new Date(); console.log(date); // Output: Current date date.setMonth(11); // Setting the month to December (0-based) console.log(date); // Output: Date with the updated month (e.g., 'Fri Dec 06 2024 ...') // Set month and day date.setMonth(5, 10); // Setting to June 10th console.log(date); // Output: 'Mon Jun 10 2024 ...'
Explanation: When only the month is provided, the day of the month remains unchanged unless it's updated using the second parameter.
4. setDate() Method
The setDate() method sets the day of the month for a Date object.
Example 4: Using setDate()
const date = new Date(); console.log(date); // Output: Current date date.setDate(15); // Set the day of the month to 15 console.log(date); // Output: Date with the updated day (e.g., 'Fri Oct 15 2024 ...') // Setting the date to a higher value adjusts the month date.setDate(32); console.log(date); // Output: Automatically moves to the next month (e.g., 'Wed Nov 01 2024 ...')
Explanation: If the day exceeds the maximum days in the current month, it automatically adjusts to the next month.
5. setHours() Method
The setHours() method sets the hour for a Date object. It can optionally set the minutes, seconds, and milliseconds.
Example 5: Using setHours()
const date = new Date(); console.log(date); // Output: Current date and time date.setHours(20); // Set the hour to 8 PM console.log(date); // Output: Date with updated hour (e.g., 'Wed Oct 06 2024 20:30:00 ...') // Set hours, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds date.setHours(15, 45, 30, 500); console.log(date); // Output: 'Wed Oct 06 2024 15:45:30.500 ...'
Explanation: You can set just the hour, or you can also specify minutes, seconds, and milliseconds.
6. setMinutes() Method
The setMinutes() method sets the minutes for a Date object. It can optionally set the seconds and milliseconds.
Example 6: Using setMinutes()
const date = new Date(); console.log(date); // Output: Current date and time date.setMinutes(10); // Set minutes to 10 console.log(date); // Output: Date with updated minutes (e.g., 'Wed Oct 06 2024 14:10:00 ...') // Set minutes, seconds, and milliseconds date.setMinutes(30, 45, 600); console.log(date); // Output: 'Wed Oct 06 2024 14:30:45.600 ...'
7. setSeconds() Method
The setSeconds() method sets the seconds for a Date object. It can optionally set the milliseconds.
Example 7: Using setSeconds()
const date = new Date(); console.log(date); // Output: Current date and time date.setSeconds(45); // Set seconds to 45 console.log(date); // Output: Date with updated seconds (e.g., 'Wed Oct 06 2024 14:30:45 ...') // Set seconds and milliseconds date.setSeconds(20, 250); console.log(date); // Output: 'Wed Oct 06 2024 14:30:20.250 ...'
8. setMilliseconds() Method
The setMilliseconds() method sets the milliseconds (0-999) for a Date object.
Example 8: Using setMilliseconds()
const date = new Date(); console.log(date); // Output: Current date and time date.setMilliseconds(500); // Set milliseconds to 500 console.log(date); // Output: Date with updated milliseconds (e.g., 'Wed Oct 06 2024 14:30:45.500 ...')
9. setTime() Method
The setTime() method sets the time for a Date object in milliseconds since January 1, 1970 (the Unix epoch).
Example 9: Using setTime()
const date = new Date(); console.log(date); // Output: Current date and time const timestamp = 1609459200000; // January 1, 2021 00:00:00 UTC in milliseconds date.setTime(timestamp); console.log(date); // Output: 'Fri Jan 01 2021 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (UTC)'
Explanation: This method allows you to set a date using a timestamp.
10. setUTC*() Methods
The setUTC*() methods are similar to the set*() methods but modify the date in the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) time zone.
Example 10: Using setUTCFullYear(), setUTCMonth(), and setUTCDate()
const date = new Date(); // Set UTC year date.setUTCFullYear(2023); console.log(date); // Output: Date with updated UTC year // Set UTC month and day date.setUTCMonth(0, 15); // January 15 in UTC console.log(date); // Output: 'Sun Jan 15 2023 ...' // Set UTC hours, minutes, and seconds date.setUTCHours(12, 30, 45); console.log(date); // Output: 'Sun Jan 15 2023 12:30:45 GMT+0000 (UTC)'
Explanation: These methods allow you to set date and time components in the UTC time zone.
11. Using set Methods Together
You can combine multiple set methods to adjust various parts of a date.
Example 11: Setting Multiple Date Components
const date = new Date(); console.log(date); // Output: Current date and time // Set year, month, day, hours, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds date.setFullYear(2022); date.setMonth(11); // December (0-based) date.setDate(25); date.setHours(10); date.setMinutes(45); date.setSeconds(30); date.setMilliseconds(123); console.log(date); // Output: 'Sun Dec 25 2022 10:45:30.123 ...'
Conclusion
The Date object's set methods provide a flexible way to manipulate dates and times in JavaScript.
Whether you need to update the year, month, day, or fine-tune the time components down to milliseconds, these methods make it easy to work with dates.
By understanding how to use these methods, you can effectively manage and manipulate