How Can I Calculate the Difference Between Two Dates in Years, Months, and Days Using JavaScript?

Calculating Date Differences in Years, Months, and Days in JavaScript

In JavaScript, obtaining the difference between two dates with precision can be challenging due to variations in month lengths and leap years. However, if basic accuracy is acceptable, a straightforward calculation method can be employed.

Date Calculation Function

Function to calculate and format the date difference:

function calcDate(date1, date2) {
  const diff = date1.getTime() - date2.getTime();
  const day = 1000 * 60 * 60 * 24;

  const days = Math.floor(diff / day);
  const months = Math.floor(days / 31);
  const years = Math.floor(months / 12);

  return `${date2.toDateString()} was \
${days} days, ${months} months, ${years} years ago`;
}

Example Usage

const today = new Date();
const past = new Date(2010, 5, 1); // Note: Month values are zero-based, so June is 5

console.log(calcDate(today, past)); // Outputs: "Tue Jun 01 2010 was 1143 days, 36 months, 3 years ago"

Output Interpretation

• Days: Difference in whole days between the current date and the past date.
• Months: Difference in whole months between the current date and the past date, calculated by dividing the day difference by the average number of days in a month (31).
• Years: Difference in whole years between the current date and the past date, calculated by dividing the month difference by 12.

Note that this calculation does not account for leap years or the exact number of days in each month. This simplified approach provides a rough estimate of the difference for most practical use cases.

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