JavaScript Date Manipulation Libraries Comparison
date-fns vs dayjs vs moment vs luxon
1 Year
date-fnsdayjsmomentluxonSimilar Packages:
What's JavaScript Date Manipulation Libraries?

JavaScript date manipulation libraries provide developers with tools to handle date and time operations efficiently. They simplify tasks such as formatting, parsing, and manipulating dates, which can be complex due to the intricacies of the JavaScript Date object. These libraries enhance productivity by offering a more intuitive API and additional features that are not available in the native Date object. The choice of library can significantly impact the ease of development, performance, and maintainability of date-related functionalities in applications.

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date-fns24,670,50535,02122.6 MB7743 months agoMIT
dayjs22,492,34347,153670 kB1,0444 months agoMIT
moment21,819,01948,0134.35 MB266a year agoMIT
luxon10,352,46715,5134.48 MB1864 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: date-fns vs dayjs vs moment vs luxon

Modularity

  • date-fns:

    date-fns is designed with a modular architecture, allowing developers to import only the specific functions they need. This leads to smaller bundle sizes and optimized performance, making it a great choice for applications where minimizing load times is crucial.

  • dayjs:

    dayjs offers a similar modular approach, enabling developers to include only the features they require. Its core library is very small, and additional functionality can be added through plugins, keeping the bundle size minimal while providing extensibility.

  • moment:

    Moment.js is a monolithic library, meaning it includes all features in a single package. While it offers a robust set of functionalities, it can lead to larger bundle sizes and is not as modular as the other options, which may be a drawback for performance-sensitive applications.

  • luxon:

    Luxon is less modular compared to date-fns and dayjs, as it is a more comprehensive library that includes a wide range of features out of the box. While this can lead to larger bundle sizes, it provides a rich API for handling complex date and time manipulations, making it suitable for applications that require extensive date functionalities.

Localization

  • date-fns:

    date-fns supports localization through its built-in locale system, allowing developers to format dates according to various regional settings. This makes it suitable for applications that need to cater to a global audience with different date formats and languages.

  • dayjs:

    dayjs also provides localization support, enabling developers to format dates in multiple languages. It includes a simple API for switching locales, making it easy to adapt to different user preferences and regional requirements.

  • moment:

    Moment.js offers extensive localization support, with built-in locales for many languages. However, it is worth noting that Moment.js has been deprecated in favor of more modern libraries, which may affect future support and updates.

  • luxon:

    Luxon has strong support for internationalization and localization, leveraging the Intl API to provide accurate date and time formatting based on the user's locale. This makes it an excellent choice for applications that require precise handling of time zones and cultural formats.

Performance

  • date-fns:

    date-fns is optimized for performance, as it allows for tree-shaking and only includes the functions that are actually used in the application. This results in faster execution times and reduced memory usage, making it suitable for performance-critical applications.

  • dayjs:

    dayjs is designed to be lightweight and fast, with a minimal footprint. Its performance is comparable to date-fns, and it is particularly efficient for simple date manipulations, making it a great choice for projects where speed is essential.

  • moment:

    Moment.js is known for its ease of use but can be slower and heavier compared to the other libraries. Its monolithic nature can lead to performance issues, particularly in large applications or those that require frequent date manipulations.

  • luxon:

    Luxon, while feature-rich, may not be as performant as date-fns or dayjs for simple operations due to its comprehensive API. However, it excels in handling complex date manipulations and time zone conversions, which can justify its use in applications where these features are necessary.

Learning Curve

  • date-fns:

    date-fns has a relatively gentle learning curve, especially for developers familiar with functional programming concepts. Its straightforward API and modular design make it easy to pick up and integrate into projects without a steep learning curve.

  • dayjs:

    dayjs is designed to be simple and intuitive, making it easy for developers to get started. Its API is similar to Moment.js, which can ease the transition for those already familiar with that library, resulting in a low learning curve.

  • moment:

    Moment.js is user-friendly and has a large community with extensive documentation, making it easy to learn. However, its size and performance issues may lead developers to seek alternatives, especially for new projects.

  • luxon:

    Luxon has a steeper learning curve due to its comprehensive features and reliance on the Intl API. Developers may need to invest more time to fully understand its capabilities, especially when dealing with complex date and time operations.

Extensibility

  • date-fns:

    date-fns is extensible through its modular design, allowing developers to create custom functions or use third-party plugins to enhance its capabilities. This flexibility makes it suitable for a wide range of applications.

  • dayjs:

    dayjs supports plugins that can be easily integrated to extend its functionality. This allows developers to customize the library according to their needs without bloating the core library, making it a versatile choice.

  • moment:

    Moment.js has a variety of plugins available, but its extensibility is limited compared to more modern libraries. As it has been deprecated, developers are encouraged to explore alternatives that offer better extensibility and performance.

  • luxon:

    Luxon is a comprehensive library with built-in features, but it is less extensible compared to date-fns and dayjs. While it provides a rich set of functionalities, developers may find it challenging to customize or extend its capabilities beyond what is provided out of the box.

How to Choose: date-fns vs dayjs vs moment vs luxon
  • date-fns:

    Choose date-fns if you prefer a functional programming approach with a modular design that allows you to import only the functions you need, minimizing bundle size. It is ideal for projects that require a lightweight solution with a comprehensive set of date manipulation functions.

README for date-fns

🔥️ NEW: date-fns v4.0 with first-class time zone support is out!

date-fns

date-fns provides the most comprehensive, yet simple and consistent toolset for manipulating JavaScript dates in a browser & Node.js

👉 Documentation

👉 Blog


It's like Lodash for dates

  • It has 200+ functions for all occasions.
  • Modular: Pick what you need. Works with webpack, Browserify, or Rollup and also supports tree-shaking.
  • Native dates: Uses existing native type. It doesn't extend core objects for safety's sake.
  • Immutable & Pure: Built using pure functions and always returns a new date instance.
  • TypeScript: The library is 100% TypeScript with brand-new handcrafted types.
  • I18n: Dozens of locales. Include only what you need.
  • and many more benefits
import { compareAsc, format } from "date-fns";

format(new Date(2014, 1, 11), "yyyy-MM-dd");
//=> '2014-02-11'

const dates = [
  new Date(1995, 6, 2),
  new Date(1987, 1, 11),
  new Date(1989, 6, 10),
];
dates.sort(compareAsc);
//=> [
//   Wed Feb 11 1987 00:00:00,
//   Mon Jul 10 1989 00:00:00,
//   Sun Jul 02 1995 00:00:00
// ]

The library is available as an npm package. To install the package run:

npm install date-fns --save

Docs

See date-fns.org for more details, API, and other docs.


License

MIT © Sasha Koss