# Date formulas
Video guide: Learn how to transform dates with formula mode
Workato supports a variety of date and datetime formulas.
Formulas in Workato are allowlisted Ruby methods. Syntax and functionality for these formulas are generally unchanged. Most formulas return an error and stop the job if the formula operates on nulls (expressed as nil in Ruby), except for present?, presence, and blank?.
You can refer to the Ruby documentation on time (opens new window) for more information. However, only allowlisted Ruby methods are supported. To request the addition of new formulas to the allowlist, submit a support ticket (opens new window).
# Date arithmetic
Use the following keywords to perform arithmetic with date and datetime data:
secondsminutesdaysmonthsyears
When combined with a formula, you can perform addition and subtraction.
# Sample usage
| Date Arithmetic | Output |
|---|---|
| "2020-01-01".to_date + 2.days | "2020-01-03" |
| "2020-01-01".to_date - 2.days | "2019-12-30" |
| "2020-01-01".to_date + 2.months | "2020-03-01" |
| "2020-01-01".to_date - 2.months | "2019-11-01" |
| "2020-01-01".to_date + 2.years | "2022-01-01" |
| "2020-01-01".to_date - 2.years | "2018-01-01" |
# now
Returns the time and date at runtime in US Pacific Time Zone (PST).
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| now | "2022-02-01T07:00:00.000000-08:00" |
| now + 8.hours | "2022-02-01T15:00:00.000000-08:00" |
| now + 2.days | "2022-02-03T07:00:00.000000-08:00" |
# How it works
The formula calculates the timestamp when the job is processed. Each step using this formula returns the timestamp at which the step runs.
Output datapill
If you only want the date without the time, try using the today formula instead.
# See also
- today: Returns the date at runtime.
- in_time_zone: Converts a time value to a different time zone.
# today
Returns the date at runtime in US Pacific Time Zone.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today | "2022-02-01" |
| today + 8.hours | "2022-02-01T15:00:00.000000-08:00" |
| today + 2.days | "2022-02-03" |
# How it works
The formula calculates the timestamp when the job is processed. Each step using this formula returns the date at which the step runs.
Output datapill
If you want the date and time, try using the now formula instead.
# See also
- now: Returns the time and date at runtime.
- in_time_zone: Converts a time value to a different time zone.
# from_now
Returns a future timestamp by a specified time duration. The timestamp is calculated at runtime.
# Syntax
Unit.from_now
- Unit - A time value to offset.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| 30.seconds.from_now | "2022-02-01T07:00:30.000000-08:00" |
| 2.months.from_now | "2022-04-01T07:00:00.000000-08:00" |
| 3.days.from_now | "2022-02-04T07:00:00.000000-08:00" |
# How it works
The formula calculates the current timestamp and offsets by a specified time duration. This timestamp is calculated when the job is processed. Each step using this formula returns a timestamp.
UNITS
You can use any of the following units: seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, or years.
# See also
- ago: Returns an earlier timestamp by a specified time duration.
- now: Returns the time and date at runtime.
- today: Returns the date at runtime.
# ago
Returns an earlier timestamp by a specified time duration. The timestamp is calculated at runtime.
# Syntax
Unit.ago
- Unit - A time value to offset.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| 2.months.ago | "2020-10-04 14:45:29 -0700" |
| 3.days.ago | "2020-12-01 14:45:29 -0700" |
| 30.seconds.ago | "2020-12-04 14:15:29 -0700" |
# How it works
The formula calculates the current timestamp and offsets by a specified time duration. This timestamp is calculated when the job is processed. Each step using this formula returns a timestamp for each step that runs.
Units
You can use any of the following units: seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, or years.
# See also
- from_now: Returns a future timestamp by a specified time duration.
- now: Returns the time and date at runtime.
- today: Returns the date at runtime.
# wday
Returns day of the week. Sunday returns 0, Monday returns 1.
# Syntax
Date.wday
- Date - A date or datetime datatype.
# Sample usage
| Example | Result |
|---|---|
| today.wday | 4 |
| "01/12/2020".to_date(format:"DD/MM/YYYY").wday | 2 |
# How it works
The formula calculates the current day when the job is processed. The day of the week is converted into an integer output. Sunday = 0, Monday = 1.
Quicktip: Convert to date datatype
This formula only works with date or datetime datatype. Use to_date to convert a string into a date datatype.
# See also
# yday
Returns day number of the year.
# Syntax
Date.yday
- Date - A date or datetime datatype.
# Sample usage
| Example | Result |
|---|---|
| today.yday | 338 |
| "2020-01-01".to_date(format:"YYYY-MM-DD").yday | 1 |
| "2020-02-01".to_date(format:"YYYY-MM-DD").yday | 32 |
# How it works
The formula calculates the current day when the job is processed. The day of the year is converted to an integer output.
Quicktip: Convert to date datatype
This formula only works with date or datetime datatype. Use to_date to convert a string into a date datatype.
# See also
# yweek
Returns week number of the year.
# Syntax
Date.yweek
- Date - A date or datetime datatype.
# Sample usage
| Example | Result |
|---|---|
| today.yweek | 49 |
| "2020-01-01".to_date(format:"YYYY-MM-DD").yweek | 1 |
| "2020-02-01".to_date(format:"YYYY-MM-DD").yweek | 5 |
# How it works
The formula calculates the current day when the job is processed. The week of the year is converted to an integer output.
Quicktip: Convert to date datatype
This formula only works with date or datetime datatype. Use to_date to convert a string into a date datatype.
# See also
# beginning_of_hour
Returns datetime for top-of-the-hour for a given datetime.
# Syntax
Datetime.beginning_of_hour
- Datetime - An input datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.to_time.beginning_of_hour | "2020-12-02T16:00:00.000000-07:00" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".to_time.beginning_of_hour | "2020-06-01T01:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01".to_time.beginning_of_hour | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
# beginning_of_day
Returns datetime for midnight on date of a given date/datetime.
# Syntax
Date.beginning_of_day
- Date - An input date or datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.beginning_of_day | "2020-12-02T00:00:00.000000-07:00" |
| "2020-06-01".to_date.beginning_of_day | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".beginning_of_day | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
# beginning_of_week
Returns date for the start of the week (Monday) for a given date/timestamp.
# Syntax
Date.beginning_of_week
- Date - An input date or datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.beginning_of_week | "2020-11-30T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01".to_date.beginning_of_week | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".beginning_of_week | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
# beginning_of_month
Returns first day of the month for a given date/datetime.
# Syntax
Date.beginning_of_month
- Date - An input date or datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.beginning_of_month | "2020-12-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01".to_date.beginning_of_month | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".beginning_of_month | "2020-06-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
# beginning_of_year
Returns first day of the year for a given date/datetime.
# Syntax
Date.beginning_of_year
- Date - An input date or datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.beginning_of_year | "2020-01-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01".to_date.beginning_of_year | "2020-01-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".beginning_of_year | "2020-01-01T00:00:00.000000+00:00" |
# end_of_month
Returns last day of the month for a given date/datetime. This formula will return a date or datetime based on the input data.
# Syntax
Date.end_of_month
- Date - An input date or datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.end_of_month | "2020-12-31" |
| "2020-06-01".to_date.end_of_month | "2020-06-30" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".to_time.end_of_month | "2020-06-30T23:59:59.999999+00:00" |
# strftime
Returns a datetime input as a user-defined string.
# Syntax
Date.strftime(format)
- Date - An input date or datetime.
- format - The format of the user-defined datetime written as a string.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| "2020-06-05T17:13:27.000000-07:00".to_date.strftime("%Y/%m/%d") | "2020/06/05" |
| "2020-06-05T17:13:27.000000-07:00".strftime("%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z") | "2020-06-05T17:13:27-0700" |
| "2020-06-05T17:13:27.000000-07:00".strftime("%B %e, %l:%M%p") | "June 5, 5:13 pm" |
| "2020-06-05T17:13:27.000000-07:00".strftime("%A, %d %B %Y %k:%M") | "Friday, 05 June 2020 0:00" |
# Parameters
As previously shown, each code (%B, %e, %I, for example) refers to a specific element of datetime. You can also add static text and punctuation, such as commas (,), slashes (/), and colons (:). Refer to the following list of frequently used codes:
| Code | Meaning | Example (2020-06-05T17:13:27.000000-07:00) |
|---|---|---|
| %Y | Year with century | 2020 |
| %m | Month with zero-prefix | 06 |
| %B | Full month name | June |
| %b | Abbreviated month name | Jun |
| %d | Day of the month with zero-prefix | 05 |
| %e | Day of the month without zero-prefix | 5 |
| %H | Hour of the day (24-hour) | 17 |
| %k | Hour of day without 0 prefix (24-hour) | 17 |
| %I (capital i) | Hour of the day (12-hour) | 05 |
| %l (lowercase L) | Hour of day without 0 prefix (12-hour) | 5 |
| %p | AM or PM | PM |
| %M | Minute of the hour | 13 |
| %S | Second of the minute | 27 |
| %L | Millisecond of the second | 000 |
| %z | Time zone offset from UTC | -0700 |
| %:z | Time zone formatted offset from UTC | -07:00 |
| %Z | Time zone abbrev. name | UTC |
| %A | Full day name | Friday |
To access the full list, check out the Ruby documentation (opens new window)
# How it works
Allows the user to define a datetime format. Returns the datetime input in the specified format.
Input datatype
The input must be a date or datetime datatype. You can use the to_date formula to convert a string into a date datatype.
# See also
- to_date: Returns a date in date datatype.
# in_time_zone
Converts a date or datetime to a different time zone using IANA time zone names (opens new window). Returns a datetime. If no time zone is specified, the value defaults to Pacific Time (PT).
# Syntax
Date.in_time_zone(format)
- Date - An input date or datetime.
- format - The target timezone.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.in_time_zone("America/New_York") | "2020-12-01T00:00:00.000000-04:00" |
| today.to_time.in_time_zone("America/New_York") | "2020-12-01T20:00:00.000000-04:00" |
| "2020-06-01".to_time.in_time_zone | "2020-05-31T17:00:00.000000-07:00" |
| "2020-06-01T01:30:45.000000+00:00".in_time_zone | "2020-05-31T18:30:45.000000-07:00" |
# dst?
Returns true if the input datetime is within Daylight Savings Time.
# Syntax
Datetime.dst?
- Datetime - An input date or datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.to_time.dst? | false |
| today.in_time_zone("America/New_York").dst? | true |
| "2020-06-01".in_time_zone("America/New_York").dst? | true |
| "2020-09-06T18:30:15.671720-05:00".to_time.dst? | false |
# Regions reference
Refer to the following table for the timezone name to use in the formula.
| Region | Timezone to use in formula | UTC zone | DST offset? |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Date Line West | Pacific/Midway | UTC-11 | |
| Midway Island | Pacific/Midway | UTC-11 | |
| American Samoa | Pacific/Pago_Pago | UTC-11 | |
| Hawaii | Pacific/Honolulu | UTC-10 | |
| Alaska | America/Juneau | UTC-9 | ✅ |
| Pacific Time (US & Canada) | America/Los_Angeles | UTC-8 | ✅ |
| Tijuana | America/Tijuana | UTC-8 | ✅ |
| Mountain Time (US & Canada) | America/Denver | UTC-7 | ✅ |
| Arizona | America/Phoenix | UTC-7 | |
| Chihuahua | America/Chihuahua | UTC-7 | ✅ |
| Mazatlan | America/Mazatlan | UTC-7 | ✅ |
| Central Time (US & Canada) | America/Chicago | UTC-6 | ✅ |
| Saskatchewan | America/Regina | UTC-6 | |
| Guadalajara | America/Mexico_City | UTC-6 | ✅ |
| Mexico City | America/Mexico_City | UTC-6 | ✅ |
| Monterrey | America/Monterrey | UTC-6 | ✅ |
| Central America | America/Guatemala | UTC-6 | |
| Eastern Time (US & Canada) | America/New_York | UTC-5 | ✅ |
| Indiana (East) | America/Indiana/Indianapolis | UTC-5 | ✅ |
| Bogota | America/Bogota | UTC-5 | |
| Lima | America/Lima | UTC-5 | |
| Quito | America/Lima | UTC-5 | |
| Atlantic Time (Canada) | America/Halifax | UTC-4 | ✅ |
| Caracas | America/Caracas | UTC-4 | |
| La Paz | America/La_Paz | UTC-4 | |
| Santiago | America/Santiago | UTC-4 | ✅ |
| Georgetown | America/Guyana | UTC-4 | |
| Newfoundland | America/St_Johns | UTC-3:30 | ✅ |
| Brasilia | America/Sao_Paulo | UTC-3 | |
| Buenos Aires | America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires | UTC-3 | |
| Montevideo | America/Montevideo | UTC-3 | |
| Greenland | America/Godthab | UTC-3 | ✅ |
| Mid-Atlantic | Atlantic/South_Georgia | UTC-2 | |
| Azores | Atlantic/Azores | UTC-1 | ✅ |
| Cape Verde Is. | Atlantic/Cape_Verde | UTC-1 | |
| Dublin | Europe/Dublin | UTC-1 | ✅ |
| Lisbon | Europe/Lisbon | UTC+0 | ✅ |
| Edinburgh | Europe/London | UTC+0 | ✅ |
| London | Europe/London | UTC+0 | ✅ |
| Monrovia | Africa/Monrovia | UTC+0 | |
| UTC | Etc/UTC | UTC+0 | |
| Casablanca | Africa/Casablanca | UTC+1 | |
| Belgrade | Europe/Belgrade | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Bratislava | Europe/Bratislava | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Budapest | Europe/Budapest | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Ljubljana | Europe/Ljubljana | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Prague | Europe/Prague | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Sarajevo | Europe/Sarajevo | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Skopje | Europe/Skopje | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Warsaw | Europe/Warsaw | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Zagreb | Europe/Zagreb | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Brussels | Europe/Brussels | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Copenhagen | Europe/Copenhagen | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Madrid | Europe/Madrid | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Paris | Europe/Paris | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Amsterdam | Europe/Amsterdam | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Berlin | Europe/Berlin | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Bern | Europe/Zurich | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Zurich | Europe/Zurich | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Rome | Europe/Rome | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Stockholm | Europe/Stockholm | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| Vienna | Europe/Vienna | UTC+1 | ✅ |
| West Central Africa | Africa/Algiers | UTC+1 | |
| Bucharest | Europe/Bucharest | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Cairo | Africa/Cairo | UTC+2 | |
| Helsinki | Europe/Helsinki | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Kyiv | Europe/Kiev | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Riga | Europe/Riga | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Sofia | Europe/Sofia | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Tallinn | Europe/Tallinn | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Vilnius | Europe/Vilnius | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Athens | Europe/Athens | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Jerusalem | Asia/Jerusalem | UTC+2 | ✅ |
| Harare | Africa/Harare | UTC+2 | |
| Pretoria | Africa/Johannesburg | UTC+2 | |
| Kaliningrad | Europe/Kaliningrad | UTC+2 | |
| Istanbul | Europe/Istanbul | UTC+3 | |
| Minsk | Europe/Minsk | UTC+3 | |
| Moscow | Europe/Moscow | UTC+3 | |
| St. Petersburg | Europe/Moscow | UTC+3 | |
| Kuwait | Asia/Kuwait | UTC+3 | |
| Riyadh | Asia/Riyadh | UTC+3 | |
| Nairobi | Africa/Nairobi | UTC+3 | |
| Baghdad | Asia/Baghdad | UTC+3 | |
| Tehran | Asia/Tehran | UTC+3:30 | ✅ |
| Volgograd | Europe/Volgograd | UTC+4 | |
| Samara | Europe/Samara | UTC+4 | |
| Abu Dhabi | Asia/Muscat | UTC+4 | |
| Muscat | Asia/Muscat | UTC+4 | |
| Baku | Asia/Baku | UTC+4 | |
| Tbilisi | Asia/Tbilisi | UTC+4 | |
| Yerevan | Asia/Yerevan | UTC+4 | |
| Kabul | Asia/Kabul | UTC+4:30 | ✅ |
| Ekaterinburg | Asia/Yekaterinburg | UTC+5 | |
| Islamabad | Asia/Karachi | UTC+5 | |
| Karachi | Asia/Karachi | UTC+5 | |
| Tashkent | Asia/Tashkent | UTC+5 | |
| Sri Jayawardenepura | Asia/Colombo | UTC+5:30 | ✅ |
| Chennai | Asia/Kolkata | UTC+5:30 | ✅ |
| Kolkata | Asia/Kolkata | UTC+5:30 | ✅ |
| Mumbai | Asia/Kolkata | UTC+5:30 | ✅ |
| New Delhi | Asia/Kolkata | UTC+5:30 | ✅ |
| Kathmandu | Asia/Kathmandu | UTC+5:45 | ✅ |
| Astana | Asia/Dhaka | UTC+6 | |
| Dhaka | Asia/Dhaka | UTC+6 | |
| Almaty | Asia/Almaty | UTC+6 | |
| Urumqi | Asia/Urumqi | UTC+6 | |
| Rangoon | Asia/Rangoon | UTC+6:30 | ✅ |
| Novosibirsk | Asia/Novosibirsk | UTC+7 | |
| Bangkok | Asia/Bangkok | UTC+7 | |
| Hanoi | Asia/Bangkok | UTC+7 | |
| Jakarta | Asia/Jakarta | UTC+7 | |
| Krasnoyarsk | Asia/Krasnoyarsk | UTC+7 | |
| Beijing | Asia/Shanghai | UTC+8 | |
| Chongqing | Asia/Chongqing | UTC+8 | |
| Hong Kong | Asia/Hong_Kong | UTC+8 | |
| Kuala Lumpur | Asia/Kuala_Lumpur | UTC+8 | |
| Singapore | Asia/Singapore | UTC+8 | |
| Taipei | Asia/Taipei | UTC+8 | |
| Perth | Australia/Perth | UTC+8 | |
| Irkutsk | Asia/Irkutsk | UTC+8 | |
| Ulaanbaatar | Asia/Ulaanbaatar | UTC+8 | |
| Seoul | Asia/Seoul | UTC+9 | |
| Osaka | Asia/Tokyo | UTC+9 | |
| Sapporo | Asia/Tokyo | UTC+9 | |
| Tokyo | Asia/Tokyo | UTC+9 | |
| Yakutsk | Asia/Yakutsk | UTC+9 | |
| Darwin | Australia/Darwin | UTC+9:30 | |
| Adelaide | Australia/Adelaide | UTC+9:30 | ✅ |
| Canberra | Australia/Melbourne | UTC+10 | ✅ |
| Melbourne | Australia/Melbourne | UTC+10 | ✅ |
| Sydney | Australia/Sydney | UTC+10 | ✅ |
| Brisbane | Australia/Brisbane | UTC+10 | |
| Hobart | Australia/Hobart | UTC+10 | ✅ |
| Vladivostok | Asia/Vladivostok | UTC+10 | |
| Guam | Pacific/Guam | UTC+10 | |
| Port Moresby | Pacific/Port_Moresby | UTC+10 | |
| Magadan | Asia/Magadan | UTC+11 | |
| Srednekolymsk | Asia/Srednekolymsk | UTC+11 | |
| Solomon Is. | Pacific/Guadalcanal | UTC+11 | |
| New Caledonia | Pacific/Noumea | UTC+11 | |
| Fiji | Pacific/Fiji | UTC+12 | ✅ |
| Kamchatka | Asia/Kamchatka | UTC+12 | |
| Marshall Is. | Pacific/Majuro | UTC+12 | |
| Auckland | Pacific/Auckland | UTC+12 | ✅ |
| Wellington | Pacific/Auckland | UTC+12 | ✅ |
| Nuku'alofa | Pacific/Tongatapu | UTC+13 | |
| Tokelau Is. | Pacific/Fakaofo | UTC+13 | |
| Samoa | Pacific/Apia | UTC+13 | |
| Chatham Is. | Pacific/Chatham | UTC+13:45 | ✅ |
# to_date
This formula converts input data into a date and returns the date formatted as YYYY-MM-DD.
# Syntax
String.to_date(format: format)
- String - A string input that describes a date or datetime.
- format - (optional) The format of the input date string. If not specified, Workato parses the input string automatically.
FORMAT PARAMETER DOESN'T AFFECT OUTPUT FORMAT
The format parameter defines only the input format. It does not affect the output format, which is always returned as YYYY-MM-DD.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| "23-01-2020 10:30 pm".to_date(format: "DD-MM-YYYY") | "2020-01-23" |
| "01-23-2020 10:30 pm".to_date(format: "MM-DD-YYYY") | "2020-01-23" |
| "2020/01/23".to_date(format: "YYYY/MM/DD") | "2020-01-23" |
| "06/27/25".to_date(format: "%m/%d/%y") | "2025-06-27" |
# How it works
Converts the input data into a date datatype.
INPUT DATA BEST PRACTICE
We recommend that you specify the input data format. If you don't specify the input data format, Workato parses the input string automatically.
The input string must resemble a date for this formula to work.
# See also
# to_time
Converts a string to an ISO timestamp. The response will use the UTC timezone (+00:00).
# Syntax
String.to_time(format: format)
- String - An input string that describes a date or datetime.
- format - (optional) The format of the user-defined datetime written as a string.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| "2020-04-02T12:30:30.462659-07:00".to_time(format: "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S") | "2020-04-02T19:30:30.000+00:00" |
| "2020-04-02".to_time | "2020-04-02T00:00:00.000+00:00" |
# How it works
Converts the input string into a datetime datatype. The output datetime will be converted to the UTC timezone (+00:00).
Autofill time
If the input data does not include the time, the output will default to 00:00:00.000000 +00:00.
# See also
- strftime: Returns datetime is a custom format.
- to_date: This formula converts the date-like input into a date. Returns the date formatted as YYYY-MM-DD.
# Parameters
As previously shown, each code (%B, %e, %I, for example) refers to a specific element of datetime. You can also add static text and punctuation, such as commas (,), slashes (/), and colons (:). Refer to the following list of frequently used codes:
| Code | Meaning | Example (2020-06-05T17:13:27.000000-07:00) |
|---|---|---|
| %Y | Year with century | 2020 |
| %m | Month with zero-prefix | 06 |
| %B | Full month name | June |
| %b | Abbreviated month name | Jun |
| %d | Day of the month with zero-prefix | 05 |
| %e | Day of the month without zero-prefix | 5 |
| %H | Hour of the day (24-hour) | 17 |
| %k | Hour of day without 0 prefix (24-hour) | 17 |
| %I (capital i) | Hour of the day (12-hour) | 05 |
| %l (lowercase L) | Hour of day without 0 prefix (12-hour) | 5 |
| %p | AM or PM | PM |
| %M | Minute of the hour | 13 |
| %S | Second of the minute | 27 |
| %L | Millisecond of the second | 000 |
| %z | Time zone offset from UTC | -0700 |
| %:z | Time zone formatted offset from UTC | -07:00 |
| %Z | Time zone abbrev. name | UTC |
| %A | Full day name | Friday |
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# to_i
Convert datetime into epoch time. Returns an epoch time in UTC (+00:00).
# Syntax
Datetime.to_i
- Datetime - An input datetime.
# Sample usage
| Formula | Result |
|---|---|
| today.to_time.to_i | 1645660800 |
| now.to_i | 1645714000 |
# How it works
Converts the input datetime into an integer, it will return epoch time in seconds, not milliseconds. The output datetime will be converted to the UTC timezone (+00:00).
Converting between Epoch time to datetime
Convert time formats easily with Workato formulas.
# How to convert human readable time to epoch time
Use to_i to convert a datetime datapill to epoch time (in UTC). Learn more about how it works.
# How to convert epoch time to human-readable time
Use the following formula to convert an epoch time to human-readable datetime.
Note that the output will be in UTC timezone (+00:00).
"1970-01-01".to_time +Epoch time.seconds
If you plan to convert epoch time to a specific timezone, you must specify it with in_time_zone.
"1970-01-01".to_time.in_time_zone("US/Pacific") +Epoch time.seconds
Wrong datatype: undefined method `to_i`
Epoch time requires a datetime datapill. If you are using a date datapill, it will cause an error.
Use to_time to convert a date into a datetime before converting to epoch time.
# See also
- to_time: Converts a string to an ISO timestamp.
- to_date: This formula converts the date-like input into a date. Returns the date formatted as YYYY-MM-DD.
- in_time_zone: Converts a time value to a different time zone.
Last updated: 7/1/2025, 7:52:12 PM