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# Date.prototype.toTimeString()

The **`toTimeString()`** method returns the time portion of a `Date` object interpreted in the local timezone in English.

## Syntax

```js
toTimeString()
```

### Return value

A string representing the time portion of the given date in human readable form in English.

## Description

`Date` instances refer to a specific point in time. `toTimeString()` interprets the date in the local timezone and formats the _time_ part in English. It always uses the format of `hh:mm:ss GMT±xxxx (TZ)`, where:

| Format String | Description                                                                                           |
| ------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `hh`          | Hour, as two digits with leading zero if required                                                     |
| `mm`          | Minute, as two digits with leading zero if required                                                   |
| `ss`          | Seconds, as two digits with leading zero if required                                                  |
| `±xxxx`       | The local timezone's offset — two digits for hours and two digits for minutes (e.g. `-0500`, `+0800`) |
| `TZ`          | The timezone's name (e.g. `PDT`, `PST`)                                                               |

For example: "04:42:04 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)".

- If you want to get the _date_ part, use [`toDateString()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date/toDateString).
- If you want to get both the date and time, use [`toString()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date/toString).
- If you want to make the date interpreted as UTC instead of local timezone, use [`toUTCString()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date/toUTCString).
- If you want to format the date in a more user-friendly format (e.g. localization), use [`toLocaleTimeString()`](https://developer.mozilla.org/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Date/toLocaleTimeString).
