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JS TutorialLesson #64

JavaScript Set Date Methods

Set Date methods let you set date values (years, months, days, hours, minutes, seconds, milliseconds) for a Date Object.

Set Date methods let you set date values (years, months, days, hours, minutes, seconds, milliseconds) for a Date Object.


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Set Date Methods

Set Date methods are used for setting a part of a date:

MethodDescription
setDate()Set the day as a number (1-31)
setFullYear()Set the year (yyyy)
setHours()Set the hour (0-23)
setMilliseconds()Set the milliseconds (0-999)
setMinutes()Set the minutes (0-59)
setMonth()Set the month (0-11)
setSeconds()Set the seconds (0-59)
setTime()Set the time (milliseconds since January 1, 1970)

The setFullYear() Method

The setFullYear() method sets the year of a date object. In this example to 2020:

Example

Example Code

javascript
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const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setFullYear(2020);

The setFullYear() method can optionally set month and day:

Example

Example Code

javascript
Try it Yourself
const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setFullYear(2020, 11, 3);

The setMonth() Method

The setMonth() method sets the month of a date object (0-11):

Example

Example Code

javascript
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const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setMonth(11);

The setDate() Method

The setDate() method sets the day of a date object (1-31):

Example

Example Code

javascript
Try it Yourself
const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setDate(15);

The setDate() method can also be used to add days to a date:

Example

Example Code

javascript
Try it Yourself
const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setDate(d.getDate() + 50);
If adding days shifts the month or year, the changes are handled automatically by the Date object.

The setHours() Method

The setHours() method sets the hours of a date object (0-23):

Example

Example Code

javascript
Try it Yourself
const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setHours(22);

The setHours() method can also be used to set minutes and seconds.

Example

Example Code

javascript
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const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setHours(22, 10, 20);

The setMinutes() Method

The setMinutes() method sets the minutes of a date object (0-59):

Example

Example Code

javascript
Try it Yourself
const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setMinutes(30);

The setSeconds() Method

The setSeconds() method sets the seconds of a date object (0-59):

Example

Example Code

javascript
Try it Yourself
const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setSeconds(30);

Compare Dates

Dates can easily be compared.

The following example compares today's date with January 14, 2100:

Example

Example Code

javascript
Try it Yourself
let text = "";

const today = new Date();

const someday = new Date();

 someday.setFullYear(2100, 0, 14);

if (someday > today) {
  text = "Today is before January 14, 2100.";
} else {

    text = "Today is after January 14, 2100.";
}
JavaScript counts months from 0 to 11. January is 0. December is 11.
Learn More: > JavaScript Date Tutorial > JavaScript Date Formats > JavaScript Date Get Methods > JavaScript Date Reference

Interactive Code Examples

JS Example 1

javascript
Try it Yourself
JavaScript syntax and algorithm demonstration.
const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setFullYear(2020);

JS Example 2

javascript
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JavaScript syntax and algorithm demonstration.
const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setFullYear(2020, 11, 3);

JS Example 3

javascript
Try it Yourself
JavaScript syntax and algorithm demonstration.
const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setMonth(11);

JS Example 4

javascript
Try it Yourself
JavaScript syntax and algorithm demonstration.
const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setDate(15);

JS Example 5

javascript
Try it Yourself
JavaScript syntax and algorithm demonstration.
const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setDate(d.getDate() + 50);

JS Example 6

javascript
Try it Yourself
JavaScript syntax and algorithm demonstration.
const d = new Date("January 01, 2025");

d.setHours(22);