By Vishal Basumatary in javascript — Mar 25, 2023

Days between Two Dates

Calculating the number of days between two dates is a common requirement in many applications. This can be useful for calculating the length of a project, the duration of an event, or the number of days until a deadline.

Method 1: Using JavaScript Date Object

One way to calculate the number of days between two dates is to use the JavaScript Date object. Here's an example:


const date1 = new Date('2021-01-01');
const date2 = new Date('2021-07-01');

const diffTime = Math.abs(date2 - date1);
const diffDays = Math.ceil(diffTime / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24)); 

console.log(diffDays); // Output: 182

In this example, we create two Date objects representing January 1st, 2021 and July 1st, 2021. We then calculate the difference in time between the two dates using the Math.abs() function to ensure a positive result. We divide this time difference by the number of milliseconds in a day and round up using the Math.ceil() function to get the number of days between the two dates.

Method 2: Using Moment.js Library

Another way to calculate the number of days between two dates is to use a library like Moment.js. Here's an example:


const date1 = moment('2021-01-01');
const date2 = moment('2021-07-01');

const diffDays = date2.diff(date1, 'days');

console.log(diffDays); // Output: 181

In this example, we create two moment objects representing January 1st, 2021 and July 1st, 2021. We then calculate the difference in days between the two dates using the diff() function with the 'days' argument.

Method 3: Using Date Math

A third way to calculate the number of days between two dates is to use date math. Here's an example:


const date1 = new Date('2021-01-01');
const date2 = new Date('2021-07-01');

const timeDiff = date2.getTime() - date1.getTime();
const diffDays = Math.ceil(timeDiff / (1000 * 3600 * 24)); 

console.log(diffDays); // Output: 182

In this example, we create two Date objects representing January 1st, 2021 and July 1st, 2021. We then calculate the difference in time between the two dates using the getTime() method. We divide this time difference by the number of milliseconds in a day and round up using the Math.ceil() function to get the number of days between the two dates.

There are multiple ways to calculate the number of days between two dates in JavaScript, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the right method depends on the specific requirements of your application and personal preference.