date() : Convert to DateTime

Convert a string or number to a DateTime object.

Signature

date(value)

Parameters

Returns

Type: DateTime

A DateTime object representing the parsed date.

Supported Formats

Examples

Parse ISO Date

<p>Order Date: {{format(date(model.orderDate), 'MMMM dd, yyyy')}}</p>

Data:

doc.Params["model"] = new {
    orderDate = "2024-03-15"
};

Output:

<p>Order Date: March 15, 2024</p>

Calculate Days Until

<p>Days until deadline: {{daysBetween(model.today, date(model.deadline))}}</p>

Data:

doc.Params["model"] = new {
    today = new DateTime(2024, 3, 1),
    deadline = "2024-03-31"
};

Output:

<p>Days until deadline: 30</p>

Format Different Date Strings

{{#each model.events}}
  <div class="event">
    <h3>{{this.name}}</h3>
    <p>{{format(date(this.dateString), 'dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy')}}</p>
  </div>
{{/each}}

Data:

doc.Params["model"] = new {
    events = new[] {
        new { name = "Conference", dateString = "2024-04-15" },
        new { name = "Workshop", dateString = "2024-05-20" },
        new { name = "Seminar", dateString = "2024-06-10" }
    }
};

Output:

<div class="event">
  <h3>Conference</h3>
  <p>Monday, April 15, 2024</p>
</div>
<div class="event">
  <h3>Workshop</h3>
  <p>Monday, May 20, 2024</p>
</div>
<div class="event">
  <h3>Seminar</h3>
  <p>Monday, June 10, 2024</p>
</div>

Add Days to String Date

<p>Ship Date: {{format(date(model.orderDate), 'yyyy-MM-dd')}}</p>
<p>Est. Delivery: {{format(addDays(date(model.orderDate), 5), 'yyyy-MM-dd')}}</p>

Data:

doc.Params["model"] = new {
    orderDate = "2024-03-15"
};

Output:

<p>Ship Date: 2024-03-15</p>
<p>Est. Delivery: 2024-03-20</p>

Notes

• Automatically detects common date formats
• Throws exception if string cannot be parsed as date
• Use with date manipulation functions (addDays, addMonths, etc.)
• Always store dates as DateTime in model when possible
• For formatting output, use format() function
• Time zone handling depends on input format

See Also

• format Function
• addDays Function
• addMonths Function
• daysBetween Function