Date Formats

To maintain consistency across applications, use the following formats and guidelines.

Date and Time

Formats

time 10:00 AM
military time 22:00:15
short date Jan 11
long date Apr 23, 2010
condensed long date MM/DD/YYYY, DD/MM/YYYY, or YYYY/MM/DD
short date and time Feb 5, 8:00 AM
long date and time Feb 8, 2014, 1:00 PM
day of week and time Mon, 7:30 AM
day of week, short date and time Mon, Mar 15, 3:25 PM

Condensed long date usage

The condensed version of the long date format has 3 variations:

  • MM/DD/YYYY (05/12/2015)
  • DD/MM/YYYY (12/05/2015)
  • YYYY/MM/DD (2015/12/05)

MM/DD/YYYY is the format most used in the US, whereas DD/MM/YYYY is used most outside the US. Depending on the date, the format, and the geographical location or customs of the user, a date has the potential for being misinterpreted if the format is not what the user is expecting. The only non-ambiguous format is YYYY/MM/DD.

Depending on your target audience, determine which format makes the most sense for your application.

Smart format

For dates/times associated with user generated data (e.g., notes, documents), use the smart format, which changes relative to the current date.

If the date is in the past or future on the current day, format as time only 10:00 AM
If the date is in the past or future within the current calendar year, format as short date Jan 11
If the date is in the past or future outside the current calendar year, format as long date Apr 23, 2010

Other

For reminders or appointments, show both time and date Jun 8, 8:00 AM
Today, 8:00 AM
Separate ranges with an en-dash without a space Jun 15–Jun 16
Dec 20, 2014–Jan 2, 2015
If a time range shares a common AM/PM, append only on the end of the range 10:00–11:00 AM
10:00 AM–12:30 PM

Lists

Unordered

  • List item 1
  • List item 2
  • List item 3
    • Nested list item 1
    • Nested list item 2
<ul>
    <li>List item 1</li>
    <li>List item 2</li>
    <li>List item 3
        <ul>
            <li>Nested list item 1 </li>
            <li>Nested list item 2 </li>
        </ul>
    </li>
</ul>

Ordered

  1. List item 1
  2. List item 2
  3. List item 3
    1. Nested list item 1
    2. Nested list item 2
<ol>
    <li>List item 1</li>
    <li>List item 2</li>
    <li>List item 3
        <ol>
            <li>Nested list item 1 </li>
            <li>Nested list item 2 </li>
        </ol>
    </li>
</ol>

Metadata

The metadata pattern can be used for showing label/value pairs.

Do

  • Consistently use # or number in labels
  • Indicate empty/blank values with an em-dash (—)
  • Reflow columns based on available screen real estate
  • Sentence case labels

Horizontal

Useful for shorter labels/values.

BOL Type
B - Booking
MOT
11 - Vessel(Containerized)
Carrier
JONN
Conveyance
REG O BOL B2
Voyage/Trip/Flight
0512A000001
Entry Number (Type)
BVA-01070040 (01)
Bill Number (Type)
JONN-150512MC0202 (B)
Entry Type/dt>
01 - Consumption: Free and Dutiable
Port of Entry
5206
Importer
--
Bond Type
9 - Single Transaction
Entry Filing Date
07/17/2015 13:40:22
Status
1
Shipment
5004672569
<div class="row">
  <div class="col-sm-4">
    <dl>
      <dt>BOL Type</dt>
      <dd>B - Booking</dd>
      <dt>MOT</dt>
      <dd>11 - Vessel(Containerized)</dd>
      <dt>Carrier</dt>
      <dd>JONN</dd>
      <dt>Conveyance</dt>
      <dd>REG O BOL B2</dd>
      <dt>Voyage/Trip/Flight</dt>
      <dd>0512A000001</dd>
    </dl>
  </div>
  <div class="col-sm-4">
    <dt>Entry Number (Type)</dt>
    <dd>BVA-01070040 (01)</dd>
    <dt>Bill Number (Type)</dt>
    <dd>JONN-150512MC0202 (B)</dd>
    <dt>Entry Type/dt>
    <dd>01 - Consumption: Free and Dutiable</dd>
    <dt>Port of Entry</dt>
    <dd>
    <a href="">
      5206 <i class="fa fa-external-link"></i>
    </a>
    </dd>
    <dt>Importer</dt>
    <dd>--</dd>
  </div>
  <div class="col-sm-4">
    <dl>
      <dt>Bond Type</dt>
      <dd>9 - Single Transaction</dd>
      <dt>Entry Filing Date</dt>
      <dd>07/17/2015 13:40:22</dd>
      <dt>Status</dt>
      <dd>1</dd>
      <dt>Shipment</dt>
      <dd>
      <a href="">
        5004672569 <i class="fa fa-external-link"></i>
      </a>
      </dd>
    </dl>
  </div>
</div>

Vertical

Useful for longer labels/values.

BOL Type
B - Booking
MOT
11 - Vessel(Containerized)
Carrier
JONN
Entry Type (Type)
01 - Consumption: Free and Dutiable
Port of Entry
5206
Importer
--
Bond Type
9 - Single Transaction
Entry Filing Date
07/17/2015 13:40:22
Conveyance
REG O BOL B2
Voyage/Trip/Flight
0512A000001
<div class="row">
  <div class="col-md-4">
    <dl class="dl-horizontal">
      <dt>BOL Type</dt>
      <dd>B - Booking</dd>
      <dt>MOT</dt>
      <dd>11 - Vessel(Containerized)</dd>
      <dt>Carrier</dt>
      <dd>JONN</dd>
    </dl>
  </div>
  <div class="col-md-4">
    <dl class="dl-horizontal">
      <dt>Entry Type (Type)</dt>
      <dd>01 - Consumption: Free and Dutiable</dd>
      <dt>Port of Entry</dt>
      <dd>
      <a href="">
        5206
        <i class="fa fa-external-link"></i>
      </a>
      </dd>
      <dt>Importer</dt>
      <dd>--</dd>
    </dl>
  </div>
  <div class="col-md-4">
    <dl class="dl-horizontal">
      <dt>Bond Type</dt>
      <dd>9 - Single Transaction</dd>
      <dt>Entry Filing Date</dt>
      <dd>07/17/2015 13:40:22</dd>
      <dt>Conveyance</dt>
      <dd>REG O BOL B2</dd>
      <dt>Voyage/Trip/Flight</dt>
      <dd>0512A000001</dd>
    </dl>
  </div>
</div>

File Sizes

  • 340 KB (round to nearest KB)
  • 4.13 MB (two decimal max)
  • 3.22 GB (two decimal max)
  • 1.13 TB (two decimal max)