getTime Method (Date) (JavaScript)

The required dateObj reference is a Date object.

Returns the number of milliseconds between midnight, January 1, 1970 and the time value in the Date object. The range of dates is approximately 285,616 years from either side of midnight, January 1, 1970. Negative numbers indicate dates prior to 1970.

When doing multiple date and time calculations, you may want to define variables equal to the number of milliseconds in a day, hour, or minute. For example:

var minute = 1000 * 60;
var hour = minute * 60;
var day = hour * 24;

See Calculating Dates and Times (JavaScript) for more information about how to use the getTime method.

The following example shows how to use the getTime method.

var minute = 1000 * 60;
var hour = minute * 60;
var day = hour * 24;

date = new Date("1/1/2001");
var time = date.getTime();

document.write(Math.round(time / day) + " days from 1/1/1970 to 1/1/2001");

// Output: 11323 days from 1/1/1970 to 1/1/2001

Supported in the following document modes: Quirks, Internet Explorer 6 standards, Internet Explorer 7 standards, Internet Explorer 8 standards, Internet Explorer 9 standards, Internet Explorer 10 standards. Also supported in Windows Store apps. See Version Information.

Applies To: Date Object (JavaScript)

Reference