JavaScript Temporal vs Date
Compare JavaScriptTemporal vs Date.
Learnthe differences in mutation, time zones, DST handling, and date math.
Learn why Temporal is the modern alternative to Date.
Differences Between Date and Temporal
- Date mixes date and time zone
- Date parsing is inconsistent
- Date is 0-based / Temporal is 1-based
- Date millisecond / Temporal nanosecond
Other Features
| Feature | Date | Temporal |
|---|---|---|
| Created | 1995 | 2026 |
| Mutable | Yes | No (Immutable) |
| Time Zone Support | Limited | Built-in |
| DTS Safe (Daylight Saving Time) | No | Yes |
| Date-Only Type | No | Yes |
| Clear Time Types | No | Yes |
| Precisition | Milliseconds | Nanoseconds |
Note
The JavaScriptDate object has been used since 1995.
Temporal is the modern replacement designed to fix many of Date's problems.
Mutation vs Immutability
Date objects can change.
This can cause unexpected side effects.
Date Example
let d = new Date(20126, 5, 1);
// Add 7 days
d.setDate(d.getDate() + 7);
// Here original date is gone
Temporal objects cannot change.
Operations return a new value instead.
Temporal Example
let d = Temporal.PlainDate.from("2026-05-1");
// Add 7 days
let next = d.add({ days: 7 });
// Here original date is kept
Date and Time Zone
new Date(2026, 4, 1) creates a timestamp of your local time zone at midnight.
This means it can "shift" when you format it in UTC or in another zone.
Example
const d = new Date(2026, 4, 1);
// Might be 2026-04-30T22:00:00.000Z in some time zones:
d.toISOString();
Temporal.PlainDate is not a timestamp.
It is just "2026-05-01" with no time and no time zone, so there can not be any shifting.
Handling Time Zones
Date mixes local time and UTC.
This makes time zone handling confusing.
Date Example
console.log(d.toString());
console.log(d.toUTCString());
Temporal uses clear types for time zones.
ZonedDateTime always includes a time zone.
Temporal Example
console.log(zdt);
Date Parsing is Inconsistent
new Date("2026-05-01") parses as an instant (often treated as UTC by spec in modern JS),but historically it has been a minefield of different formats, browser quirks and locale surprises.
Temporal avoids this by:
- defining strict parsing rules for ISO strings
- using Temporal.Instant.from() for clearly-typed conversions
Temporal is 1-Based
- Date: January = 0
- Temporal: January = 1 (much more human-friendly)
Example
new Date(2026, 4, 1)
// May 1:
new Temporal.PlainDate(2026, 5, 1)
Date Math
Date math withDate often requires manual calculations.
Date Example
start.setDate(start.getDate() + 30);
console.log(start);
Temporal has built-in date arithmetic.
Temporal Example
let result = start.add({ days: 30 });
console.log(result);
Nanosecond Precision
Unlike the Date object which uses milliseconds, Temporal.Instant offers 1000 times higher nanosecond precision.
Clear Separation of Types
Date represents both a date and a time in one object.
Temporal separates different use cases into different types.
Temporal.Instant- Exact moment in time (UTC).Temporal.PlainDate- Date only.Temporal.PlainDateTime- Date and time without time zone.Temporal.ZonedDateTime- Date and time with time zone.Temporal.Duration- Length of time.
This makes code easier to read and less error-prone.
When Should You Use Date?
You may still useDate for simple tasks such as getting a quick timestamp.
You may also need it if you support older environments without Temporal.
When Should You Use Temporal?
You need correct time zone handling.
You work with international users.
You want safe date arithmetic.
You want clear and modern code.
Summary
Date works, but it has limitations and confusing behavior.
Temporal is safer, clearer, and designed for modern applications.
Nex Chapter
Browser Support
Temporal is an ES2026 feature. It is not fully supported in all browsers:
| Chrome 144 | Edge 144 | Firefox 139 | Safari | Opera |
| Jan 2026 | Jan 2026 | May 2025 | 🚫 | 🚫 |
