DateModifiedFilter

DateModifiedFilter is a software component designed to restrict or select data records based on their modification timestamps. It is commonly used in content management systems, database query interfaces, and web APIs to allow users to retrieve only the items that were changed within a specified time window. The filter is typically implemented as a logical condition that compares the date_modified or updated_at field of each record against user‑supplied start and end dates.

In relational database queries, DateModifiedFilter is expressed as a WHERE clause, e.g. WHERE date_modified BETWEEN '2023‑01‑01' AND '2023‑01‑31'. For RESTful APIs, the filter may appear as query parameters such as ?modifiedAfter=2023-01-01&modifiedBefore=2023-02-01. Some platforms provide a built‑in filter object in their SDKs, allowing developers to chain methods like .modifiedAfter(date).modifiedBefore(date).

Key advantages of using DateModifiedFilter include reducing payload size by excluding unchanged records, improving synchronization efficiency between client and server, and enabling incremental data processing. Common pitfalls involve timezone handling; developers must ensure that the comparison logic uses a consistent timezone reference to avoid missing or duplicating records. Additionally, indexing the modification date column can dramatically improve query performance, especially on large datasets.

DateModifiedFilter is a versatile tool in data management and is supported by many open‑source frameworks such as Django, Laravel, and .NET Entity Framework, as well as by enterprise products like Microsoft SharePoint, Salesforce, and Elasticsearch.