How to Get Yesterday Date in JavaScript

To get the date for yesterday in JavaScript, subtract one day from the current date.

let date = new Date();
date.setDate(date.getDate() - 1);
console.log(date); // Yesterday date

Getting the date for yesterday in JavaScript is a common requirement in web development for tasks like logging, reporting, and analytics. This guide will cover various methods to obtain yesterday’s date with detailed explanations and code examples.

In web development, manipulating dates is a frequent task. One such task is getting the date for yesterday, which can be useful for generating reports, logging data, or performing time-based calculations. This guide will demonstrate several methods to achieve this in JavaScript.

Using the setDate Method

The Date object in JavaScript provides a straightforward way to manipulate dates. By using the setDate method, you can easily subtract one day from the current date to get the date for yesterday.

Example 1: Using setDate

let date = new Date();
date.setDate(date.getDate() - 1);
console.log(date); // Yesterday date

Handling Time Zones

When dealing with dates, it’s important to consider time zones, especially in applications that span multiple regions. The method shown above uses the local time zone of the JavaScript environment.

Example 2: Handling Time Zones

let date = new Date();
let utcDate = new Date(date.getTime() + date.getTimezoneOffset() * 60000);
utcDate.setDate(utcDate.getDate() - 1);
let yesterday = new Date(utcDate.getTime() - date.getTimezoneOffset() * 60000);
console.log(yesterday); // Yesterday date in the local time zone

Using a Custom Function

Creating a custom function to get the date for yesterday can encapsulate the logic, making your code reusable and easier to maintain.

Example 3: Custom Function

function getYesterday() {
  let date = new Date();
  date.setDate(date.getDate() - 1);
  return date;
}

let yesterday = getYesterday();
console.log(yesterday); // Yesterday date

Using Libraries

Libraries like Moment.js can simplify date manipulations, including getting the date for yesterday.

Example 4: Using Moment.js

First, include Moment.js in your project:

<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/moment.js/2.29.1/moment.min.js"></script>

Then use Moment.js to get the date for yesterday:

let yesterday = moment().subtract(1, 'days');
console.log(yesterday.format('YYYY-MM-DD')); // Yesterday date

Conclusion

Getting the date for yesterday in JavaScript can be achieved using various methods, each suitable for different scenarios. Whether using the built-in setDate method, handling time zones manually, creating a custom function, or leveraging a library like Moment.js, JavaScript provides robust tools for date manipulation. Understanding these techniques allows you to choose the most appropriate one for your specific needs, ensuring your code is efficient and effective.

By mastering these methods, you can handle date calculations confidently, making your web development projects more robust and maintainable.