How to use the Date Extractor
Paste text, choose an output mode, and inspect the dates the Date Extractor recognizes. The result can be a list, rewritten text, a context table, CSV, or JSON. A selected Date format controls the normalized value shown in those results.
How to extract dates from text
- Paste text into
Input text, or selectUploadfor a.txt,.csv,.log, or.mdfile. - Choose an output mode:
List (dates only),Harmonize (rewrite text),Table (context view),CSV, orJSON. - Select
Date format. For a format of your own, chooseCustom...and enter tokens inCustom pattern (YYYY, MM, DD, MMMM, MMM, D, Do). - Set
SorttoDocument order,Oldest first, orNewest first. CheckUnique dates onlyto remove repeated dates, or selectInterpret ambiguous numeric dates as DD/MMfor day-first reading. - Review
Output text, then useCopyorDownload.
Date format options for mixed date text
Date format includes ISO 8601, US, EU, EU dot, Long, Long day-first, Short, and Custom.... A custom pattern can contain YYYY, MM, DD, MMMM, MMM, D, and Do. With List and ISO 8601 selected, these two dates become:
Invoice issued: 03/15/2024
Due: March 20, 2024
2024-03-15
2024-03-20The parser recognizes year-first numeric dates, dot-separated dates, month-year values, abbreviated month names, and ordinal day suffixes. It checks the calendar date, so 02/30/2024 is skipped.
What Harmonize changes
Harmonize (rewrite text) replaces each recognized date in the original text and leaves the other characters in place. It keeps every occurrence, including repeats. List, Table, CSV, and JSON have Unique dates only selected by default, so repeated normalized dates are removed before sorting.
When both numbers in a numeric date could be months, the default reading is month-first. Select Interpret ambiguous numeric dates as DD/MM for day-first reading. Dot-separated dates use day-first order. A number greater than 12 resolves an otherwise ambiguous pair. Two-digit years 00 through 29 become 2000 through 2029; 30 through 99 become 1930 through 1999. A month-year match uses day 1.
Check the output before reuse
Use Table (context view) when the surrounding text helps you identify a match. Its rows show Context, Found, and Normalized values.
CSV output contains Found and Normalized columns. JSON also includes context and the ISO value. In Harmonize (rewrite text), the original characters around each recognized date remain in place.
Choose the right text extractor
The Text Parsing & Data Extraction category groups tools by the value you need to find. Choose Extract Lines Containing a String for a word or regular-expression match. Choose Time Extractor for clock times in 12-hour or 24-hour form. Choose Named Entity Recognition Tool when the text also contains people, organizations, locations, money, or other entity types.
Frequently asked questions
How do I extract dates from text?
Paste the text into Input text, choose an output mode, and review Output text. The extractor checks year-first and numeric dates, month names, ordinal day forms, and month-year values.
What does Harmonize do to the original text?
Harmonize (rewrite text) replaces each recognized date with the selected Date format and keeps the remaining text in its original position. It keeps duplicate occurrences.
How do I read ambiguous numeric dates?
Numeric dates use month-first reading by default when both parts are 12 or less. Select Interpret ambiguous numeric dates as DD/MM when the source uses day-first order.
Can I extract dates from a CSV file?
Yes. Select Upload for a .csv file or paste its contents into Input text. The parser scans the text for recognizable dates, and CSV output includes Found and Normalized columns.
Does the Date Extractor send pasted text to a server?
No. The page's date-processing script runs in the browser and makes no fetch, XMLHttpRequest, sendBeacon, or form submission with the entered text.