Dates are not a specific TypeScript type, so how should you represent them? Should you use any or object? It seems like there should be a proper way to handle dates in TypeScript.
For instance:
let myDate: any = new Date();
I couldn’t find much information on Google about this simple question. What is the correct way to represent dates using the typescript date type?
The correct type for representing dates in TypeScript is Date:
const d: Date = new Date(); // The type can also be inferred automatically from 'new Date()'
Using the typescript date type ensures your code is type-safe and more readable.
TypeScript recognizes the Date interface natively, just like it does with number, string, or custom types. Therefore, you should use the typescript date type like this:
let myDate: Date = new Date();
This way, you benefit from TypeScript’s type-checking capabilities.
As mentioned, the type for dates in TypeScript is Date. This typescript date type is useful for enforcing at compile time that you are working with a Date object. Here’s an example of correct usage:
const date: Date = new Date();
function logDayNumber(date: Date) {
console.log(date.getDay());
}
// Works fine
logDayNumber(date);
// Compile-time error occurs if you forget the 'new' keyword
// Argument of type 'string' is not assignable to parameter of type 'Date'
logDayNumber(Date());
In the incorrect usage, Date()
without new
returns a string, which causes a compile-time error when passed to a function expecting a Date object. This is why using the typescript date type is crucial for maintaining type safety in your code.