Google Apps Script:
Converting a date into a string

How to:

Google Apps Script, being based on JavaScript, allows for multiple methods to achieve the conversion of dates to strings. Below are some examples illustrating different approaches:

Using toString() Method:

The most straightforward method is to use the toString() method, which converts the date object to a string in the default format.

var date = new Date();  // Creates a new date object
var dateString = date.toString();
Logger.log(dateString); // Output: "Wed Apr 05 2023 12:34:56 GMT-0700 (Pacific Daylight Time)"

Using toDateString() Method:

To get just the date part in a readable format without the time information, toDateString() can be used.

var date = new Date();
var dateString = date.toDateString();
Logger.log(dateString); // Output: "Wed Apr 05 2023"

Using Utilities.formatDate() for Custom Formats:

For more control over the format, Google Apps Script provides Utilities.formatDate(). This method requires three parameters: the date object, the time zone, and the format string.

var date = new Date();
var timeZone = Session.getScriptTimeZone();
var formattedDate = Utilities.formatDate(date, timeZone, "YYYY-MM-dd");
Logger.log(formattedDate); // Output: "2023-04-05"

This method is particularly powerful for generating dates in formats that are locale-specific or suited to specific application requirements.

Deep Dive

The necessity to convert dates into strings is not unique to Google Apps Script; it’s prevalent across all programming languages. However, Google Apps Script’s approach, inherited from JavaScript, offers a flexible set of options catered towards web-based scripting. Utilities.formatDate() stands out by acknowledging the complexities of working with time zones – a challenge often overlooked.

Historically, handling dates and times has been a source of bugs and complexity in software development, primarily due to differences in time zones and formats. The introduction of Utilities.formatDate() in Google Apps Script is a nod towards standardizing date-time manipulations, especially in the context of Google’s suite of products which are used globally.

However, when precise control over time zones, locales, and formats is required, especially in internationalized applications, developers might find themselves leveraging external libraries such as Moment.js (despite its growing preference for Luxon, Day.js, and date-fns due to bundle size concerns and modern features). This approach, of course, comes with the trade-off of adding external dependencies and possibly increased project complexity.

Despite the potential for external libraries, Utilities.formatDate() and the native JavaScript date methods offer robust solutions for most common use cases. Savvy developers will balance the simplicity and convenience of built-in functions with the power and flexibility of external libraries, depending on their project’s specific needs.