Head-to-Head: date-fns vs Luxon Analysis

date-fns

v3.6.0(4 months ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 0Monthly npm downloads

date-fns is a modern JavaScript date utility library that provides a wide range of functions for manipulating and formatting dates. It offers a simple and functional API for common date operations such as parsing, formatting, comparing, and calculating differences between dates. date-fns is lightweight, modular, and optimized for performance, making it a popular choice for handling date-related tasks in web applications.

Alternatives: moment, luxon, day.js

Tags: javascriptdatetimeutilityformatting

luxon

v3.4.4(8 months ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are provided via a separate npm package: @types/luxonNumber of direct dependencies: 0Monthly npm downloads

Luxon is a modern JavaScript library for working with dates and times, offering a rich set of features for parsing, formatting, and manipulating date and time values. It provides a more robust and feature-rich alternative to Moment.js, with better support for internationalization, timezones, and formatting options. Luxon follows the ECMAScript Internationalization API standards and provides a cleaner and more intuitive API for handling dates and times.

Alternatives: moment, day.js, date-fns

Tags: javascriptdatetimeformattingparsing

Fight!

Popularity

Both Date-fns and Luxon are popular date manipulation libraries in the JavaScript ecosystem. Date-fns has been around longer and has a larger user base, but Luxon has gained popularity for its modern API and features.

Size

Luxon is known for its small size and lightweight nature, making it a good choice for projects where bundle size is a concern. Date-fns, while modular, can be slightly larger in size due to its extensive feature set.

Flexibility

Date-fns is more modular and allows you to import only the specific functions you need, which can help reduce the overall bundle size. Luxon, on the other hand, provides a more opinionated and cohesive API, which can be beneficial for developers looking for a consistent experience.

Functionality

Both Date-fns and Luxon offer a wide range of date manipulation functionalities. Date-fns is known for its comprehensive feature set, while Luxon focuses on providing a modern API with features like time zones and internationalization support.

Performance

Luxon is known for its excellent performance due to its efficient design and optimized algorithms. Date-fns is also performant but may have slightly higher overhead in certain scenarios due to its modular nature.

Developer Experience

Luxon provides a modern and intuitive API that is easy to use and understand. Date-fns, while powerful, may have a steeper learning curve for beginners due to its modular structure and extensive feature set.

Maintenance

Both Date-fns and Luxon are actively maintained by their respective communities. Luxon is known for its regular updates and responsive maintainers, ensuring that the library stays up-to-date with the latest standards and best practices.