---
title: "date-fns"
description: "Functions for formatting, parsing, and manipulating JavaScript dates."
pagination: false
---

{/* Generated from content/. Edit the catalog, not this page. */}

<PurposeNote title="Good for">Picking individual functions for the date operations you need.</PurposeNote>

## What it does

Functions for formatting, parsing, and manipulating JavaScript dates.

## When it fits

Picking individual functions for the date operations you need.

## What you build

Call the date functions from your application code. Choose formatting patterns and locale behavior explicitly; build or add a separate calendar UI when users need to select a date.

## Keep in mind

Date calculations and formatting, rather than a date picker UI.

## Other options in this category

<div data-pagefind-ignore>

- [@internationalized/date](/dates/internationalized-date) — Building date controls that need explicit calendar and timezone behavior.
- [Chrono](/dates/chrono) — Turning phrases such as next Friday into structured date information.
- [Day.js](/dates/dayjs) — Working with dates through a familiar, chainable API.
- [pretty-ms](/dates/pretty-ms) — Showing elapsed time and task durations in interfaces or logs.
- [Spacetime](/dates/spacetime) — Working with dates across timezones using a chainable interface.

</div>

## Source

[Project source for date-fns ↗](https://date-fns.org/)

Editorial overview reviewed on October 24, 2026. Follow the source for current setup, compatibility, and licensing.

[Format a date →](/tasks/format-a-date)

[All dates &amp; time options →](/dates)