# unicorn/prefer-date-now

> Require `Date.now()` to get the current time in milliseconds

`new Date().getTime()` creates a `Date` object only to read one number from it. `Date.now()` returns the same number without the object.

Turning a `new Date()` into a number is reported too, as in `+new Date()`, `Number(new Date())`, or arithmetic such as `new Date() - start`.

`--fix` rewrites everything except the arithmetic.

{/* Generated by src/codegen/lint-rule-docs.ts. Do not edit this section. */}

## Configure

Off by default. To turn it on:

```toml bunfig.toml
[lint.rules]
"unicorn/prefer-date-now" = "error" # or "warn"
```

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## Examples

Reported:

{/* bad {"count": 3} */}
```js
const start = new Date().getTime();
const stamp = +new Date();
const elapsed = new Date() - start;
```

Not reported:

{/* good */}
```js
const start = Date.now();
const stamp = Date.now();
const elapsed = Date.now() - start;

const created = new Date(user.createdAt).getTime();
```