date-fns vs moment
Date and Time Manipulation
Search packages..
date-fnsmomentSimilar Packages:

Date and Time Manipulation

Date manipulation libraries in JavaScript provide developers with tools to work with dates and times more effectively. They simplify tasks such as formatting, parsing, and manipulating dates, which can be complex due to the intricacies of time zones, daylight saving time, and different date formats. These libraries help streamline date-related operations, improve code readability, and enhance overall productivity in web development. date-fns is a modern library that provides a comprehensive set of functions for date manipulation while focusing on modularity and tree-shakability, allowing developers to import only the functions they need. moment is a feature-rich, legacy library that offers comprehensive date-time functionality but is larger in size.

Npm Package Weekly Downloads Trend

3 Years

Github Stars Ranking

Stat Detail

Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
date-fns036,54322.6 MB9172 years agoMIT
moment048,0084.35 MB2972 years agoMIT

Feature Comparison: date-fns vs moment

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

How to Choose: date-fns vs moment

  • date-fns:

    Choose date-fns if you prefer a modular, lightweight library that allows you to import only the functions you need, which can help reduce bundle size. It is ideal for modern JavaScript applications that use tree-shaking.

  • moment:

    Moment.js is a legacy project, now in maintenance mode. In most cases, you should choose a different library.

Similar Npm Packages to date-fns

date-fns is a popular JavaScript library for manipulating and formatting dates. It provides a comprehensive set of functions that allow developers to work with dates in a functional programming style. With its modular approach, you can import only the functions you need, making it lightweight and efficient. date-fns is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it a great choice for both small and large projects.

While date-fns is a powerful option for date manipulation, there are several alternatives in the JavaScript ecosystem that also provide date handling capabilities. Here are a few notable alternatives:

  • datejs is a JavaScript library that provides a comprehensive set of date manipulation functions. It offers a simple and intuitive API for parsing, formatting, and manipulating dates. datejs is particularly useful for developers who need to work with various date formats and perform complex date calculations. However, it may not be as lightweight as some other libraries, making it more suitable for projects where extensive date manipulation is required.

  • dayjs is a minimalist JavaScript library that offers a simple and fast alternative to Moment.js. It has a similar API to Moment.js, making it easy to switch for those familiar with it. dayjs is designed to be small in size and provides a wide range of date manipulation functions. If you're looking for a lightweight library with a familiar API, dayjs is an excellent choice.

  • luxon is a powerful library for working with dates and times in JavaScript. It is built on the modern JavaScript Date API and provides a rich set of features for date manipulation, formatting, and time zone handling. luxon is particularly useful for applications that require robust time zone support and internationalization. If your project involves complex date and time requirements, luxon is a strong contender.

  • moment is one of the most well-known date manipulation libraries in the JavaScript ecosystem. It provides a comprehensive set of features for parsing, validating, manipulating, and formatting dates. However, it has become less favored in recent years due to its larger size and performance concerns compared to newer libraries. While moment is still widely used, developers are increasingly turning to lighter alternatives like date-fns and dayjs.

To see how date-fns compares with datejs, dayjs, luxon, and moment, check out the comparison: Comparing date-fns vs datejs vs dayjs vs luxon vs moment.

Similar Npm Packages to moment

moment is a widely-used JavaScript library for parsing, validating, manipulating, and formatting dates and times. It provides a simple and intuitive API that allows developers to work with dates in a way that is both powerful and easy to understand. However, as applications have evolved, some developers have sought alternatives to moment due to its large size and performance considerations. Here are a few popular alternatives:

  • date-fns is a modern JavaScript date utility library that provides a comprehensive set of functions for manipulating dates. Unlike moment, which is a monolithic library, date-fns is modular, allowing developers to import only the functions they need. This modularity results in smaller bundle sizes and improved performance. date-fns is a great choice for developers looking for a lightweight and functional approach to date manipulation without sacrificing functionality.

  • dayjs is a minimalist JavaScript library that offers a similar API to moment but with a much smaller footprint. It is designed to be a drop-in replacement for moment, making it easy for developers to transition without having to learn a new API. dayjs is particularly useful for projects where performance and bundle size are critical, as it provides many of the same features as moment while being significantly lighter.

  • luxon is a powerful library for working with dates and times in JavaScript, created by one of the Moment.js maintainers. It offers a rich set of features, including support for time zones, localization, and formatting. luxon is built on the modern JavaScript Date API and provides a more robust solution for applications that require advanced date and time manipulation. If your project needs to handle complex date scenarios, such as time zone conversions or internationalization, luxon is an excellent choice.

To see how moment compares with date-fns, dayjs, and luxon, check out the comparison: Comparing date-fns vs dayjs vs luxon vs moment.

README for date-fns

šŸ”„ļø 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

šŸ‘‰ Documentation

šŸ‘‰ 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 Ā© Sasha Koss

npm-compare.com is an independent website designed to help developers choose the most suitable npm packages. We are not affiliated with npm, Inc, the official website for the npm registry. Note that npm is a registered trademark of npm, Inc. Please share your feedback via our GitHub repository. For more details, please refer to our Terms & Privacy.