---
title: Date
description: Returns the date of the given page.
categories: []
keywords: []
params:
  functions_and_methods:
    returnType: time.Time
    signatures: [PAGE.Date]
---

Set the date in front matter:

{{< code-toggle file=content/news/article-1.md fm=true >}}
title = 'Article 1'
date = 2023-10-19T00:40:04-07:00
{{< /code-toggle >}}

> [!NOTE]
> The date field in front matter is often considered to be the creation date, You can change its meaning, and its effect on your project, in your project configuration. See [details][].

The date is a [time.Time][] value. Format and localize the value with the [`time.Format`][] function, or use it with any of the [time methods][].

```go-html-template
{{ .Date | time.Format ":date_medium" }} → Oct 19, 2023
```

In the example above we explicitly set the date in front matter. With Hugo's default configuration, the `Date` method returns the front matter value. This behavior is configurable, allowing you to set fallback values if the date is not defined in front matter. See [details][].

[`time.Format`]: /functions/time/format/
[details]: /configuration/front-matter/#dates
[time methods]: /methods/time/
[time.Time]: https://pkg.go.dev/time#Time