Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global objects/Date/@@toPrimitive

The [@@toPrimitive]() method converts a Date object to a primitive value.

Syntax

Date()[Symbol.toPrimitive](hint);

Return value

The primitive value of the given Date object. Depending on the argument, the method can return either a string or a number.

Description

The [@@toPrimitive]() method of the Date object returns a primitive value, that is either of type number or of type string.

If hint is string or default, [@@toPrimitive]() tries to call the toString method. If the toString property does not exist, it tries to call the valueOf method and if the valueOf does not exist either, [@@toPrimitive]() throws a TypeError.

If hint is number, [@@toPrimitive]() first tries to call valueOf, and if that fails, it calls toString.

JavaScript calls the [@@toPrimitive]() method to convert an object to a primitive value. You rarely need to invoke the [@@toPrimitive]() method yourself; JavaScript automatically invokes it when encountering an object where a primitive value is expected.

Examples

Returning date primitives

const testDate = new Date(1590757517834);
// "Date Fri May 29 2020 14:05:17 GMT+0100 (British Summer Time)"

testDate[Symbol.toPrimitive]('string');
// Returns "Date Fri May 29 2020 14:05:17 GMT+0100 (British Summer Time)"

testDate[Symbol.toPrimitive]('number');
// Returns "1590757517834"

testDate[Symbol.toPrimitive]('default');
// Returns "Date Fri May 29 2020 14:05:17 GMT+0100 (British Summer Time)"

Specifications

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

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile						Server
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet	Node.js
`@@toPrimitive`	Chrome Full support 47	Edge Full support 15	Firefox Full support 44	IE No support No	Opera Full support 34	Safari Full support 10	WebView Android Full support 47	Chrome Android Full support 47	Firefox Android Full support 44	Opera Android Full support 34	Safari iOS Full support 10	Samsung Internet Android Full support 5.0	nodejs Full support 6.0.0

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support