> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://chatbotx.io/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Format Date

> Format dates and times in a ChatbotX Flow with date-fns patterns before showing them to customers or using them in automation.

**Format Date** changes a date or time value into the format your Flow needs. Use it when the system stores a date in one format but customers, staff, or another step in the Flow need a different display.

For example, you can change `2026-08-11T14:30:00` into `11/08/2026`, `11 Aug 2026`, or `14:30`.

## Add Format Date to a Flow

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Flow">
    Open the Flow that contains the date or time value you want to format.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a Perform Action node">
    Add a **Perform Action** node before the message or condition that will use the formatted value.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose Format Date">
    Open the node, click **Create**, then select **Tools > Format Date**.

    <Frame>
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/chatbotx/GMkdbZ1eGBhC4VPX/images/select_format_date_in_tools_menu.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=GMkdbZ1eGBhC4VPX&q=85&s=51817a5ea260970371f94ba07f84fb5c" alt="Select Format Date In Tools Menu" width="2862" height="1885" data-path="images/select_format_date_in_tools_menu.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the value and format">
    Select the **Input Custom Field**, enter a date-fns pattern in **Format**, choose the **Output Custom Field**, then select the **Timezone** and click **Save**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/chatbotx/GMkdbZ1eGBhC4VPX/images/format_date_action.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=GMkdbZ1eGBhC4VPX&q=85&s=610614e779d83147526a13929ddf54c3" alt="Format Date Action" width="2862" height="1889" data-path="images/format_date_action.png" />
</Frame>

## Use date-fns format patterns

ChatbotX uses the date-fns formatting style. Use the [date-fns interactive formatter](https://date-fns-interactive.netlify.app/) to test patterns before adding them to your Flow.

| Pattern              | Output example            | Meaning                                 |
| -------------------- | ------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| `yyyy-MM-dd`         | `2026-08-11`              | Four-digit year, month, and day         |
| `dd/MM/yyyy`         | `11/08/2026`              | Day, month, and four-digit year         |
| `dd MMM yyyy`        | `11 Aug 2026`             | Day, abbreviated month, and year        |
| `EEEE, dd MMMM yyyy` | `Tuesday, 11 August 2026` | Full weekday, day, full month, and year |
| `HH:mm`              | `14:30`                   | 24-hour time and minutes                |
| `HH:mm:ss`           | `14:30:00`                | 24-hour time, minutes, and seconds      |

Use uppercase `MM` for months and lowercase `mm` for minutes. Use `yyyy` for a four-digit calendar year.

## Choose the source, output, and timezone

* **Input Custom Field:** The field that stores the original date or time.
* **Format:** The date-fns pattern that controls the result.
* **Output Custom Field:** The field where ChatbotX saves the formatted value. Use **Add** when you need a new Custom Field.
* **Timezone:** The timezone used to format the value. Select **Contact Timezone** when the date should follow the contact's timezone.

## Example: show a delivery date

Your Flow stores a delivery date in a Custom Field. Add **Format Date** before the confirmation message, then use `dd/MM/yyyy` so the customer sees a familiar date format.

<Note>
  Test the pattern with a real date value before publishing the Flow. This helps you confirm the day, month, and time appear in the expected order.
</Note>