JavaScript Date parse()

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Example 1

let ms = Date.parse("March 21, 2012");

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Description

parse() parses a date string and returns the time difference since January 1, 1970.

parse() returns the time difference in milliseconds.

Example 2

Calculate the number of years between January 1, 1970 to March 21, 2012:

// Calculate milliseconds in a year
const minute = 1000 * 60;
const hour = minute * 60;
const day = hour * 24;
const year = day * 365;

// Compute years
const d = Date.parse("March 21, 2012");
let years = Math.round(d / year);

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Browser Support

parse() is an ECMAScript1 (ES1) feature.

ES1 (JavaScript 1997) is fully supported in all browsers:


Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Safari	Opera	IE
Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Syntax

Date.parse(datestring)

Parameters

datestring

Required.
A string representing a date.

Return Value

A number.

Milliseconds since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC.

JavaScript Dates

JavaScript Date Formats

JavaScript Date Get Methods

JavaScript Date Set Methods