How to Change Date Format “DD-MMM-YYYY” in HTML input type=”date” with React JS

Customizing date formats within <input type="date"> elements using React JS can enhance user experience and meet specific project requirements effectively.

In React JS, altering date formats within <input type="date"> fields requires a thoughtful approach. Let’s delve into the process and explore solutions for achieving the desired format.

Creating the Issue:

To demonstrate the issue, consider attempting to set the date format directly within the <input type="date"> element using React. Despite specifying the format as “DD-MMM-YYYY,” the browser may not interpret it correctly, leading to unexpected behavior.

<input type="date" value="2024-03-07" />

Root Cause of the Issue:

The issue stems from the HTML5 date input type’s default behavior, which varies across browsers. While React allows setting the desired format, browsers may not fully support custom formats for date inputs, leading to inconsistencies in rendering.

Solution 1: Using JavaScript Date Object:

Manipulate the date object to format the date string before rendering it in the input element.

const formattedDate = new Date().toLocaleDateString('en-GB', {
  day: '2-digit',
  month: 'short',
  year: 'numeric',
});
<input type="date" value={formattedDate} />

Solution 2: Utilizing Moment.js:

Integrate Moment.js library to simplify date formatting and ensure cross-browser compatibility.

import moment from 'moment';
const formattedDate = moment().format('DD-MMM-YYYY');
<input type="date" value={formattedDate} />

Solution 3: Implementing date-fns Library:

Leverage date-fns library for date manipulation and formatting tasks within React components.

import { format } from 'date-fns';
const formattedDate = format(new Date(), 'dd-MMM-yyyy');
<input type="date" value={formattedDate} />

Solution 4: Custom Component with Controlled State:

Create a custom React component to manage date formatting and state updates effectively.

const CustomDateInput = () => {
  const [date, setDate] = useState('');
  const handleDateChange = (e) => {
    setDate(e.target.value);
  };
  return <input type="date" value={date} onChange={handleDateChange} />;
};

Solution 5: Browser-Specific CSS Styling:

Apply CSS styles targeting specific browsers to enforce consistent date format presentation.

input[type="date"]::-webkit-inner-spin-button,
input[type="date"]::-webkit-calendar-picker-indicator {
  display: none;
}

Implementing these solutions empowers React developers to effectively customize date formats within <input type="date"> elements, ensuring a seamless user experience across various browsers and platforms.