# General Translation Platform: formatRelativeTimeFromDate
URL: https://generaltranslation.com/en-US/docs/platform/core/reference/utility-functions/formatting/format-relative-time-from-date.mdx
---

title: formatRelativeTimeFromDate
description: Format relative time from a date without a GT instance. API reference for formatRelativeTimeFromDate.

---

[`formatRelativeTimeFromDate`](/docs/platform/core/reference/gt-class-methods/formatting/format-relative-time-from-date) is a standalone utility function from General Translation's Core library that formats a relative time string from a `Date`, automatically selecting the most appropriate unit (seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or years).

## Overview [#overview]

Import `formatRelativeTimeFromDate` directly from `generaltranslation` and call it with a `Date` and an options object. It does not require an API key or a [GT](/docs/platform/core/reference/gt-class/constructor) instance. For instance-based formatting that inherits the instance locale, use the [`formatRelativeTimeFromDate`](/docs/platform/core/reference/gt-class-methods/formatting/format-relative-time-from-date) method on a [`GT`](/docs/platform/core/reference/gt-class/constructor) instance instead. To format an explicit value and unit yourself, use [`formatRelativeTime`](/docs/platform/core/reference/utility-functions/formatting/format-relative-time).

```typescript
import { formatRelativeTimeFromDate } from 'generaltranslation';

const pastDate = new Date(Date.now() - 7200000); // 2 hours ago
const formatted = formatRelativeTimeFromDate(pastDate, {
  locales: 'en-US',
  baseDate: new Date(),
});
// Returns: "2 hours ago"
```

Signature:

```typescript
formatRelativeTimeFromDate(
  date: Date,
  options?: { locales?: string | string[] }
    & Omit<Intl.RelativeTimeFormatOptions, 'locales'>
    & { baseDate?: Date }
): string
```

## How it works [#how-it-works]

- **Unit selection.** Automatically selects the best unit based on the difference between `date` and `baseDate`.
- **Underlying API.** Uses [`Intl.RelativeTimeFormat`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Intl/RelativeTimeFormat) under the hood.
- **Numeric mode.** Defaults to `numeric: 'auto'` and `style: 'long'`.
- **Base date default.** When `baseDate` is not provided, it defaults to `new Date()`. Be aware this can cause hydration mismatches in server-rendered apps.
- **Locale resolution.** When `locales` is omitted, it falls back to the library default locale, `en`.

## Parameters [#parameters]

| Parameter | Description | Type | Optional | Default |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [`date`](#date) | The date to format relative to `baseDate`. | `Date` | No | — |
| [`options`](#options) | Formatting configuration, including the target locale(s) and the comparison base date. | `{ locales?: string \| string[] } & Omit<Intl.RelativeTimeFormatOptions, 'locales'> & { baseDate?: Date }` | Yes | `{}` |

### `date` [#date]

**Type** `Date` · **Required**

The `Date` to format relative to `baseDate`.

### `options` [#options]

**Type** `{ locales?: string | string[] } & Omit<Intl.RelativeTimeFormatOptions, 'locales'> & { baseDate?: Date }` · **Optional** · **Default** `{}`

Formatting configuration:

| Property | Description | Type | Optional | Default |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `locales` | Locale(s) for formatting. | `string \| string[]` | Yes | `en` |
| `baseDate` | The base date for comparison. | `Date` | Yes | `new Date()` |
| `numeric` | Whether to always use numeric output. | `'always' \| 'auto'` | Yes | `'auto'` |
| `style` | The length of the output. | `'long' \| 'short' \| 'narrow'` | Yes | `'long'` |
| `localeMatcher` | The locale matching algorithm to use. | `'best fit' \| 'lookup'` | Yes | `'best fit'` |

## Returns [#returns]

**Type** `string`

The formatted relative time string (for example, "2 hours ago", "in 3 days").

## Examples [#examples]

```typescript
import { formatRelativeTimeFromDate } from 'generaltranslation';

const now = new Date();

// 2 hours ago
const pastDate = new Date(now.getTime() - 7200000);
console.log(formatRelativeTimeFromDate(pastDate, {
  locales: 'en-US',
  baseDate: now,
}));
// Output: "2 hours ago"

// 3 days in the future
const futureDate = new Date(now.getTime() + 259200000);
console.log(formatRelativeTimeFromDate(futureDate, {
  locales: 'en-US',
  baseDate: now,
}));
// Output: "in 3 days"
```

```typescript
// Multiple locales
const pastDate = new Date(Date.now() - 86400000); // ~1 day ago
const now = new Date();

const locales = ['en-US', 'fr-FR', 'ja-JP', 'de-DE'];

locales.forEach((locale) => {
  console.log(`${locale}: ${formatRelativeTimeFromDate(pastDate, {
    locales: locale,
    baseDate: now,
  })}`);
});
// Output:
// en-US: yesterday
// fr-FR: hier
// ja-JP: 昨日
// de-DE: gestern
```

## Notes [#notes]

- Automatically selects the best unit based on the difference between `date` and `baseDate`.
- Defaults to `numeric: 'auto'` and `style: 'long'`.
- If `baseDate` is not provided, it defaults to `new Date()` — be aware this can cause hydration mismatches in server-rendered apps.
- Uses [`Intl.RelativeTimeFormat`](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Intl/RelativeTimeFormat) under the hood.