Allow client-side scripts to convert dates in the format used in MediaWiki interface (Community Wishlist/W266)

Description

Software, including MediaWiki APIs, usually handles dates in Unix time (e.g. 1672543856) or ISO format (2023-01-01T12:30:56Z), but MediaWiki shows them in human-friendly formats such as "04:30, 1 January 2023" or "2023年1月1日 (日) 20:30". But script developers have no access to the logic according to which these formats are produced (or even the difference between the user/site's time and UTC, which can vary with DST) and can't show dates in a way that is consistent with how the user sees the rest of the MediaWiki interface.

Previous wishlist surveys: 2023

Assigned focus area

Unassigned

Type of wish

Feature request

Tags

Bots and gadgets

Affected users

Users and developers of MediaWiki and its extensions, gadgets and scripts, especially those in Iran, Thailand, etc.

Phabricator tasks

T21992, T389161

Other details

Created: 08:38, 21 August 2024
Last updated: 18:52, 23 October 2025
Author: Nardog (talk)

Voting

This wish currently has 1 supporter. Supporting this wish is currently disabled.

Supporters of this wish

Support Pppery (talk) 16:16, 10 October 2025