Allow mat-datepicker to return a string instead of a date object.

Please describe the feature you would like to request.

Allow for the mat-datepicker to return a string, instead of a Date object.

What is the use-case or motivation for this proposal?

I am currently attempting to use mat-datepicker, with the Angular Form Builder. The only issue, is that mat-datepicker will return the selected value as a Date object instead of a string. This does not allow for the value to be immediately passed in from the mat-datepicker into a formGroup, and then sent as a request to the server without first converting it to a string. In an app that heavily uses date-picker it requires a new component to be built on top of mat-datepicker.

Is there anything else we should know?

The following is a stackblitz, which re-iterates point that the mat-datepicker returns an object, instead of the expected string. You will have to open up console in order to see value.

If you have any recommendations on how to provide a value from a module side of things, so that mat-datepicker returns a string instead of a date object, it would be very much so appreciated. Thank you.

[Qocotzxin]

No, of course it will not solve the issue since it’s only a workaround, and even more, this way you only get the value exactly as you see it on screen. So, if you look for example something more like a JS date string you would have to use toString() method from Moment.

As far as I know the best (?) way to get this solved is through the adapter. I was finally able to do it by creating a custom adapter extending moment one, but the parse method would only allow as return value ‘null’ or ‘Moment’ so we are still missing the string you mention. I’m guessing that just adding a new return type will be the solution for the string issue, and should be the more elegant way to avoid extra logic since the adapter is the only ‘place’ where you always have to pass if you use the datepicker component. I totally support that, it would be a great feature to avoid unncessary extra parsing before sending a request and you even could choose what kind of string you wanna get since the adapter allows to apply different logics.

[SamiSul]

guess they won’t add it huh