Date.prototype.valueOf()

The valueOf() method returns the primitive value of a Date object.

Syntax

dateObj.valueOf()

Return value

The number of milliseconds between 1 January 1970 00:00:00 UTC and the given date.

Description

The valueOf() method returns the primitive value of a Date object as a number data type, the number of milliseconds since midnight 01 January, 1970 UTC.

This method is functionally equivalent to the Date.prototype.getTime() method.

This method is usually called internally by JavaScript and not explicitly in code.

Examples

Using valueOf()

var x = new Date(56, 6, 17);
var myVar = x.valueOf();      // assigns -424713600000 to myVar

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
ECMAScript 1st Edition (ECMA-262) Standard Initial definition. Implemented in JavaScript 1.1.
ECMAScript 5.1 (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Date.prototype.valueOf' in that specification.		 Standard  
ECMAScript 2015 (6th Edition, ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Date.prototype.valueOf' in that specification.		 Standard  
ECMAScript Latest Draft (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Date.prototype.valueOf' in that specification.		 Draft  

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub
DesktopMobileServer
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung InternetNode.js
valueOfChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 1IE Full support 4Opera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support 1Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 1.0nodejs Full support Yes

Legend

Full support  
Full support

See also

Related Topics
  1. Standard built-in objects
  2. Date
  3. Properties
    1. Date.prototype
  4. Methods
    1. Date.UTC()
    2. Date.now()
    3. Date.parse()
    4. Date.prototype.getDate()
    5. Date.prototype.getDay()
    6. Date.prototype.getFullYear()
    7. Date.prototype.getHours()
    8. Date.prototype.getMilliseconds()
    9. Date.prototype.getMinutes()
    10. Date.prototype.getMonth()
    11. Date.prototype.getSeconds()
    12. Date.prototype.getTime()
    13. Date.prototype.getTimezoneOffset()
    14. Date.prototype.getUTCDate()
    15. Date.prototype.getUTCDay()
    16. Date.prototype.getUTCFullYear()
    17. Date.prototype.getUTCHours()
    18. Date.prototype.getUTCMilliseconds()
    19. Date.prototype.getUTCMinutes()
    20. Date.prototype.getUTCMonth()
    21. Date.prototype.getUTCSeconds()
    22. Date.prototype.getYear()
    23. Date.prototype.setDate()
    24. Date.prototype.setFullYear()
    25. Date.prototype.setHours()
    26. Date.prototype.setMilliseconds()
    27. Date.prototype.setMinutes()
    28. Date.prototype.setMonth()
    29. Date.prototype.setSeconds()
    30. Date.prototype.setTime()
    31. Date.prototype.setUTCDate()
    32. Date.prototype.setUTCFullYear()
    33. Date.prototype.setUTCHours()
    34. Date.prototype.setUTCMilliseconds()
    35. Date.prototype.setUTCMinutes()
    36. Date.prototype.setUTCMonth()
    37. Date.prototype.setUTCSeconds()
    38. Date.prototype.setYear()
    39. Date.prototype.toDateString()
    40. Date.prototype.toGMTString()
    41. Date.prototype.toISOString()
    42. Date.prototype.toJSON()
    43. Date.prototype.toLocaleDateString()
    44. Date.prototype.toLocaleFormat()
    45. Date.prototype.toLocaleString()
    46. Date.prototype.toLocaleTimeString()
    47. Date.prototype.toSource()
    48. Date.prototype.toString()
    49. Date.prototype.toTimeString()
    50. Date.prototype.toUTCString()
    51. Date.prototype.valueOf()
    52. Date.prototype[@@toPrimitive]
  5. Inheritance:
  6. Function
  7. Properties
    1. Function.arguments
    2. Function.arity
    3. Function.caller
    4. Function.displayName
    5. Function.length
    6. Function.name
    7. Function.prototype
  8. Methods
    1. Function.prototype.apply()
    2. Function.prototype.bind()
    3. Function.prototype.call()
    4. Function.prototype.isGenerator()
    5. Function.prototype.toSource()
    6. Function.prototype.toString()
  9. Object
  10. Properties
    1. Object.prototype.__count__
    2. Object.prototype.__noSuchMethod__
    3. Object.prototype.__parent__
    4. Object.prototype.__proto__
    5. Object.prototype.constructor
  11. Methods
    1. Object.prototype.__defineGetter__()
    2. Object.prototype.__defineSetter__()
    3. Object.prototype.__lookupGetter__()
    4. Object.prototype.__lookupSetter__()
    5. Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty()
    6. Object.prototype.isPrototypeOf()
    7. Object.prototype.propertyIsEnumerable()
    8. Object.prototype.toLocaleString()
    9. Object.prototype.toSource()
    10. Object.prototype.toString()
    11. Object.prototype.unwatch()
    12. Object.prototype.valueOf()
    13. Object.prototype.watch()
    14. Object.setPrototypeOf()