The Date.now() method returns the number of milliseconds elapsed since 1 January 1970 00:00:00 UTC.

Syntax

var timeInMs = Date.now();

Parameters

None.

Description

The now() method returns the milliseconds elapsed since 1 January 1970 00:00:00 UTC up until now as a Number.

Because now() is a static method of Date, you always use it as Date.now().

Polyfill

This method was standardized in ECMA-262 5th edition. Engines which have not been updated to support this method can work around the absence of this method using the following shim:

if (!Date.now) {
  Date.now = function now() {
    return new Date().getTime();
  };
}

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
ECMAScript 5.1 (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Date.now' in that specification.
Standard Initial definition. Implemented in JavaScript 1.5.
ECMAScript 2015 (6th Edition, ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Date.now' in that specification.
Standard  
ECMAScript 2017 Draft (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Date.now' in that specification.
Draft  

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support 5 3.0 (1.9) 9 10.50 4
Feature Android Chrome for Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes)

See also

Document Tags and Contributors

 Last updated by: fscholz,