# Using Moment.js in a function node - NR 3.01 - 2023?
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-moment-js-in-a-function-node-nr-3-01-2023/76916
**Category:** General
**Created:** [25 March 2023 03:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-moment-js-in-a-function-node-nr-3-01-2023/76916 "2023-03-25T03:21:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@craigcurtin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/craigcurtin)
#### Post date: [25 March 2023 03:21 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-moment-js-in-a-function-node-nr-3-01-2023/76916/1 "2023-03-25T03:21:09Z")
Guys
What is the state of the nation in terms of using Moment.js in a function node as of NR 3.01 and 2023 ?
I believe that Moment.js is now included with NR due to support in the change node/jsonata etc.
What is the method therefore for calling moment in a function node for dat and time formatting ?
Having done a search on this already it appears that the solution has evolved over time and am unsure if i need to install the NPM module now, make the addition to settings.js etc - or if i can happily just declare it at the top of my function and away i go ?
Craig
---
### Author:  [@UnborN](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/UnborN)
#### Post date: [25 March 2023 08:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-moment-js-in-a-function-node-nr-3-01-2023/76916/2 "2023-03-25T08:05:47Z")
> [@craigcurtin](#):
>
> What is the method therefore for calling moment in a function node for dat and time formatting ?
You have to include it in the **Setup** tab of any Function node you want to use it
Example of formatting today's date
```auto
msg.payload = moment().format("YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss")
return msg;
```
* * *
If an npm package is already in `.node-red/node_modules`, possibly because it was installed by another node, Node-red will use that when you add it in a Function's Setup tab .. if its missing it will automatically install it.
In `settings.js` there is the following settings to allow or deny this functionality.
```auto
/** Allow the Function node to load additional npm modules directly */
functionExternalModules: true,
```
---
### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [25 March 2023 12:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-moment-js-in-a-function-node-nr-3-01-2023/76916/3 "2023-03-25T12:57:37Z")
> [@UnborN](#):
>
> You have to include it in the **Setup** tab of any Function node you want to use it
You can also use JSONata in a function node - which already includes Moment of course.
---
### Author:  [@UnborN](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/UnborN)
#### Post date: [25 March 2023 14:04 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-moment-js-in-a-function-node-nr-3-01-2023/76916/4 "2023-03-25T14:04:39Z")
I think $moment() was added to jsonata by Node-red but only available in the Change node.
The jsonata library by itself natively doesnt have it as function.
but even so .. if someone would resort to using a Function node, it means they have some knowledge of JS and i doubt they would be using jsonata which as demonstrated in some posts is a bit slower than plain JS.
---
### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [25 March 2023 14:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-moment-js-in-a-function-node-nr-3-01-2023/76916/5 "2023-03-25T14:41:29Z")
> [@UnborN](#):
>
> I think $moment() was added to jsonata by Node-red but only available in the Change node.
> The jsonata library by itself natively doesnt have it as function.
It's OK because it looks like I made up that fact anyway! I was convinced that JSONata had been added as a function to function nodes but I can't find any references to it at all.
---
### Author:  [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)
#### Post date: [25 March 2023 14:54 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-moment-js-in-a-function-node-nr-3-01-2023/76916/6 "2023-03-25T14:54:11Z")
Do you mean these?
[evaluateJSONataExpression](https://nodered.org/docs/api/modules/v/1.3/@node-red_util_util.html#.evaluateJSONataExpression)
[prepareJSONataExpression](https://nodered.org/docs/api/modules/v/1.3/@node-red_util_util.html#.prepareJSONataExpression)
---
### Author:  [@UnborN](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/UnborN)
#### Post date: [25 March 2023 15:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-moment-js-in-a-function-node-nr-3-01-2023/76916/7 "2023-03-25T15:31:51Z")
it works .. Interesting, never knew those existed 😉
```auto
const expression = '$moment().format("YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss")';
let exp = RED.util.prepareJSONataExpression(expression, node)
RED.util.evaluateJSONataExpression(exp, msg, (err, res) => {
node.send({ payload : res})
})
```
---
### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [25 March 2023 21:00 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-moment-js-in-a-function-node-nr-3-01-2023/76916/8 "2023-03-25T21:00:58Z")
> [@E1cid](#):
>
> Do you mean these?
Grrr 😁 well found. Added to my Obsidian knowledgebase as it should have been before.
> [@UnborN](#):
>
> never knew those existed
Well hidden indeed.
---
### Author:  [@craigcurtin](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/craigcurtin)
#### Post date: [25 March 2023 22:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-moment-js-in-a-function-node-nr-3-01-2023/76916/9 "2023-03-25T22:52:32Z")
thanks for chiming in everyone - hopefully all of that will help out the next person who wants to use moment in a simple fnction node
Much appreciated.
Craig
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [8 April 2023 22:53 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/using-moment-js-in-a-function-node-nr-3-01-2023/76916/10 "2023-04-08T22:53:13Z")
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