Skip to content

How to get yesterday's date using JavaScript

How do you get yesterdays' date using JavaScript?

Well, first you get the date at the current time (today), then you subtract a day from it:

const today = new Date()
const yesterday = new Date(today)

yesterday.setDate(yesterday.getDate() - 1)

today.toDateString()
yesterday.toDateString()

We use the setDate() method on yesterday, passing as parameter the current day minus one.

Even if it’s day 1 of the month, JavaScript is logical enough and it will point to the last day of the previous month.


→ Here's my latest YouTube video

→ Get my JavaScript Beginner's Handbook

→ I wrote 17 books to help you become a better developer, download them all at $0 cost by joining my newsletter

JOIN MY CODING BOOTCAMP, an amazing cohort course that will be a huge step up in your coding career - covering React, Next.js - next edition February 2025

Bootcamp 2025

Join the waiting list