JavaScript date libraries provide utilities for parsing, validating, manipulating, and formatting dates. These libraries simplify complex date operations and offer various features to handle time zones, localization, and more. Choosing the right library depends on your project requirements, performance considerations, and ease of use.
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moment
19,116,477
47,886
4.35 MB
253
6 months ago
MIT
date-fns
18,600,754
34,135
22.2 MB
709
4 months ago
MIT
dayjs
18,569,309
46,259
666 kB
980
2 months ago
MIT
luxon
7,467,319
15,057
4.33 MB
188
8 months ago
MIT
Feature Comparison: moment vs date-fns vs dayjs vs luxon
Design Principles
moment: Moment.js is designed to be a comprehensive solution for date manipulation. It offers a wide range of features and plugins, making it a versatile choice for various date-related tasks.
date-fns: date-fns follows a functional programming approach, providing over 200 functions to work with dates. Each function is a separate module, allowing for tree-shaking and reducing bundle size.
dayjs: dayjs is designed to be a minimalist library with a small footprint. It aims to be a drop-in replacement for Moment.js with a similar API but significantly smaller size.
luxon: Luxon is built with modern JavaScript in mind, leveraging ES6 classes and modules. It focuses on immutable data structures and provides a comprehensive API for date and time manipulation.
Consistency
moment: Moment.js can be inconsistent due to its mutable nature. Operations on Moment objects can modify the original instance, leading to potential side effects.
date-fns: date-fns ensures consistency by providing pure functions that do not mutate the input date objects. This approach aligns with functional programming principles and reduces side effects.
dayjs: dayjs maintains consistency by offering a familiar API similar to Moment.js. It ensures that methods return new instances, preserving immutability.
luxon: Luxon emphasizes consistency through its immutable data structures. Methods return new instances, ensuring that original objects remain unchanged.
Mutability
moment: Moment.js is mutable by default. Operations on Moment objects can change the original instance, which may lead to unexpected behavior in some cases.
date-fns: date-fns promotes immutability by default. All functions return new date instances, ensuring that the original date objects are not modified.
dayjs: dayjs supports immutability by returning new instances for all operations. This behavior aligns with modern JavaScript practices and reduces side effects.
luxon: Luxon is inherently immutable. All methods return new DateTime instances, preserving the original data and preventing unintended modifications.
Localization
moment: Moment.js provides extensive localization support with built-in locale files for over 100 languages. It also allows for custom locale definitions and configurations.
date-fns: date-fns provides localization support through separate locale files. It supports over 50 languages and allows for custom locale definitions.
dayjs: dayjs offers localization support with built-in locale files. It supports multiple languages and allows for custom locale configurations.
luxon: Luxon has robust localization features, including support for multiple languages, time zones, and custom formatting options. It leverages the Intl API for localization.
Learning Curve
moment: Moment.js has a low learning curve, making it easy to get started with. Its extensive documentation and community support further simplify the learning process.
date-fns: date-fns has a moderate learning curve due to its functional programming approach. Developers familiar with functional programming will find it easier to adopt.
dayjs: dayjs has a low learning curve, especially for developers familiar with Moment.js. Its API is straightforward and easy to understand.
luxon: Luxon has a moderate learning curve, primarily due to its comprehensive API and focus on immutability. Developers may need to spend some time understanding its advanced features.
How to Choose: moment vs date-fns vs dayjs vs luxon
moment: Choose Moment.js for a comprehensive and well-established library with a wide range of features. It is suitable for legacy projects or when you need extensive plugin support.
date-fns: Choose date-fns for a modular approach with tree-shaking capabilities. It is ideal for projects that prioritize performance and bundle size.
dayjs: Choose dayjs if you need a lightweight and fast library with a similar API to Moment.js. It is suitable for projects that require simplicity and minimal configuration.
luxon: Choose Luxon for advanced date and time manipulation, especially if you need robust support for time zones and localization. It is ideal for complex applications that require extensive date handling.
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Similar Npm Packages to moment
moment is a popular date and time manipulation library for JavaScript. It provides a simple and intuitive API for parsing, validating, manipulating, and formatting dates and times. While moment is widely used in the JavaScript community, there are other libraries that offer similar functionalities. Here are a few alternatives:
date-fns is a modern JavaScript date utility library that provides a comprehensive set of functions for working with dates and times. It focuses on immutability and functional programming principles.
dayjs is a minimalist JavaScript date library that is lightweight and easy to use. It offers a similar API to moment but with a smaller bundle size and faster performance.
luxon is a library for working with dates and times in JavaScript that emphasizes simplicity and ease of use. It provides a rich feature set for parsing, formatting, and manipulating dates.
