date-fns vs moment | Date and Time Manipulation Comparison

Package	Downloads	Stars	Size	Issues	Publish	License

date-fns	32,347,774	35,625	22.6 MB	804	7 months ago	MIT
moment	23,002,096	48,077	4.35 MB	281	a year ago	MIT

Package

Downloads

Stars

Size

Issues

Publish

License

date-fns

32,347,774

35,625

22.6 MB

804

7 months ago

MIT

moment

23,002,096

48,077

4.35 MB

281

a year ago

MIT

Size and Performance

date-fns:
date-fns is designed to be lightweight and modular. Since it allows you to import only the functions you need, it can lead to smaller bundle sizes compared to monolithic libraries. This modular approach also helps improve performance, especially in applications that only require a few date manipulation functions.
moment:
moment is a comprehensive date manipulation library, but it is relatively large (around 16KB minified and gzipped). Its size can impact performance, particularly in applications where load time and bandwidth are concerns. However, it offers a wide range of features that justify its size for many applications.

API Design

date-fns:
date-fns provides a simple and consistent API for date manipulation. Its functions are designed to be pure, meaning they do not modify the input data, which helps avoid side effects. The API is easy to understand and use, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels.
moment:
moment offers a rich and expressive API for working with dates and times. It provides a wide range of methods for parsing, formatting, and manipulating dates. However, its API can be complex and may have a steeper learning curve for new users, especially given the library's extensive feature set.

Mutability

date-fns:
date-fns functions are immutable, meaning they do not change the original date objects. Instead, they return new instances with the desired changes. This immutability helps prevent unintended side effects and makes the code more predictable and easier to debug.
moment:
moment allows for mutable date objects, meaning you can change the value of a date object in place. While this can be convenient, it can also lead to unexpected behavior if the same date object is used in multiple places in the code.

Localization and Time Zones

date-fns:
date-fns provides built-in support for localization and time zones, but it is more limited compared to moment. You can add localization support by importing the necessary locale data, but time zone handling is not as comprehensive and may require additional libraries or custom implementations.
moment:
moment has extensive support for localization and time zones, making it a robust choice for applications that need to handle dates and times across different regions. It includes built-in support for multiple time zones and allows for more complex time zone calculations.

Community and Maintenance

date-fns:
date-fns is actively maintained and has a growing community. Its modern design and focus on modularity have made it popular among developers looking for lightweight and efficient date manipulation solutions.
moment:
moment has a large and established community, but it is in maintenance mode, meaning that no new features are being added, and the focus is primarily on fixing bugs. This may be a consideration for long-term projects that require ongoing support and updates.

Ease of Use: Code Examples

date-fns:

date-fns Example

import { format, parseISO } from 'date-fns';

const date = parseISO('2023-01-01');
const formattedDate = format(date, 'MMMM do, yyyy');
console.log(formattedDate); // January 1st, 2023

moment:

moment Example

import moment from 'moment';

const date = moment('2023-01-01');
const formattedDate = date.format('MMMM Do, YYYY');
console.log(formattedDate); // January 1st, 2023

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 // ]