Date.now()

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

Syntax

var timeInMs = Date.now();

Return value

A Number representing the milliseconds elapsed since the UNIX epoch.

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();
  };
}

Examples

Reduced time precision

To offer protection against timing attacks and fingerprinting, the precision of Date.now() might get rounded depending on browser settings.
In Firefox, the privacy.reduceTimerPrecision preference is enabled by default and defaults to 20ยตs in Firefox 59; in 60 it will be 2ms.

// reduced time precision (2ms) in Firefox 60
Date.now()
// 1519211809934
// 1519211810362
// 1519211811670
// ...


// reduced time precision with `privacy.resistFingerprinting` enabled
Date.now();
// 1519129853500
// 1519129858900
// 1519129864400
// ...

In Firefox, you can also enable privacy.resistFingerprinting, the precision will be 100ms or the value of privacy.resistFingerprinting.reduceTimerPrecision.microseconds, whichever is larger.

Specifications

Specification
ECMAScript (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Date.now' in that specification.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobileServer
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung InternetNode.js
nowChrome Full support 5Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 3IE Full support 9Opera Full support 10.5Safari Full support 4WebView Android Full support 1Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 14Safari iOS Full support 4Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0nodejs Full support 0.1.100

Legend

Full support
Full support

See also