🕐XML Time

Format dates in XML sitemaps and RSS feeds using the XML Time component.

See MDN: Date.toISOString()

The XML Time component converts machine-readable date and time values to ISO 8601 format. This is essential for generating valid XML feeds like RSS, Atom, and sitemaps that require standardized date formats.

When to Use

Use XML Time for:

• RSS feed publication dates (<pubDate>)

• Atom feed <updated> and <published> elements

• Sitemap <lastmod> timestamps

• Any XML output requiring ISO 8601 formatted dates

How to Use

1. Drag an XML Time component from Components > XML onto your canvas

2. Bind the datetime property to a date value from your CMS or data source

3. The component outputs the date in ISO format (e.g., 2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z)

Properties

Property	Type	Description
datetime	Date/String	The date value to convert. Accepts a JavaScript Date object, ISO string, or timestamp.
dateStyle	String	Controls the output format style for the date.

Example Usage

RSS Feed Item Date

When building an RSS feed with a Collection, use XML Time to format publication dates:

<item>
  <title>Article Title</title>
  <pubDate>
    <!-- XML Time outputs: 2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z -->
  </pubDate>
</item>

Sitemap Last Modified

For XML sitemaps, XML Time ensures proper date formatting:

<url>
  <loc>https://example.com/page</loc>
  <lastmod>
    <!-- XML Time outputs the ISO date -->
  </lastmod>
</url>

Binding Dynamic Dates

To display dynamic dates from your CMS:

1. Select the XML Time component

2. In Settings, click the binding icon next to datetime

3. Open the Expression Editor

4. Bind to your date field: Collection Item.publishedAt

Difference from Time Component

Component	Output	Use Case
Time	Human-readable dates (e.g., "January 15, 2024")	Displaying dates to users
XML Time	ISO 8601 format (e.g., "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z")	Machine-readable XML/RSS feeds

Technical Notes

• XML Time renders the date string directly without any HTML wrapper

• The ISO 8601 format is universally recognized by feed readers and XML parsers

• Always ensure your source date is valid; invalid dates will produce unexpected output

Related Components

• XML Node – Create XML elements for feeds

• Time – Display human-readable dates

• Collection – Loop through data for feed items