The `date` processor is used to parse dates from document fields and to add the parsed data to a new field. By default, the parsed data is stored in the `@timestamp` field. The following is the syntax for the `date` processor:
```json
{
"date": {
"field": "date_field",
"formats": ["yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss.SSSZZ"]
}
}
```
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## Configuration parameters
The following table lists the required and optional parameters for the `date` processor.
Parameter | Required | Description |
|-----------|-----------|-----------|
`field` | Required | The name of the field to which the data should be converted. Supports template snippets. |
`formats` | Required | An array of the expected date formats. Can be a [date format]({{site.url}}{{site.baseurl}}/field-types/supported-field-types/date/#formats) or one of the following formats: ISO8601, UNIX, UNIX_MS, or TAI64N. |
`description` | Optional | A brief description of the processor. |
`if` | Optional | A condition for running this processor. |
`ignore_failure` | Optional | If set to `true`, failures are ignored. Default is `false`. |
`locale` | Optional | The locale to use when parsing the date. Default is `ENGLISH`. Supports template snippets. |
`on_failure` | Optional | A list of processors to run if the processor fails. |
`output_format` | Optional | The [date format]({{site.url}}{{site.baseurl}}/field-types/supported-field-types/date/#formats) to use for the target field. Default is `yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss.SSSZZ`. |
`tag` | Optional | An identifier tag for the processor. Useful for debugging to distinguish between processors of the same type. |
`target_field` | Optional | The name of the field in which to store the parsed data. Default target field is `@timestamp`. |
`timezone` | Optional | The time zone to use when parsing the date. Default is `UTC`. Supports template snippets. |
## Using the processor
Follow these steps to use the processor in a pipeline.
**Step 1: Create a pipeline.**
The following query creates a pipeline, named `date-output-format`, that uses the `date` processor to convert from European date format to US date format, adding the new field `date_us` with the desired `output_format`:
```json
PUT /_ingest/pipeline/date-output-format
{
"description": "Pipeline that converts European date format to US date format",
"processors": [
{
"date": {
"field" : "date_european",
"formats" : ["dd/MM/yyyy", "UNIX"],
"target_field": "date_us",
"output_format": "MM/dd/yyy",
"timezone" : "UTC"
}
}
]
}
```
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**Step 2 (Optional): Test the pipeline.**
It is recommended that you test your pipeline before you ingest documents.
{: .tip}
To test the pipeline, run the following query:
```json
POST _ingest/pipeline/date-output-format/_simulate
{
"docs": [
{
"_index": "testindex1",
"_id": "1",
"_source": {
"date_us": "06/30/2023",
"date_european": "30/06/2023"
}
}
]
}
```
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#### Response
The following example response confirms that the pipeline is working as expected:
```json
{
"docs": [
{
"doc": {
"_index": "testindex1",
"_id": "1",
"_source": {
"date_us": "06/30/2023",
"date_european": "30/06/2023"
},
"_ingest": {
"timestamp": "2023-08-22T17:08:46.275195504Z"
}
}
}
]
}
```
**Step 3: Ingest a document.**
The following query ingests a document into an index named `testindex1`:
```json
PUT testindex1/_doc/1?pipeline=date-output-format
{
"date_european": "30/06/2023"
}
```
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**Step 4 (Optional): Retrieve the document.**
To retrieve the document, run the following query:
