date2

"date2" is a widely used command-line utility in Unix and Unix-like operating systems designed to display or set the system date and time. It is part of the GNU Coreutils package and serves as the successor to the traditional "date" command, offering enhanced functionality and formatting options.

The primary function of "date2" is to output the current date and time in various formats specified by the user. It supports a range of options that allow customization of the output format, including displaying the date in custom layouts, showing the day of the week, or formatting the date for use in scripts and logs. Additionally, "date2" can be used to set the system date and time, typically requiring administrative privileges.

"date2" provides the ability to parse date strings and convert them into Unix timestamps, which can be useful in scripting and automation tasks. Its flexible format string syntax allows users to specify detailed representations of date and time components, such as year, month, day, hour, minute, second, and timezone.

In some implementations, "date2" may also include options for displaying the date in different calendar systems or locales, making it a versatile tool for internationalized applications.

Overall, "date2" is an important utility for system administrators, developers, and users who need precise control over date and time information within their computing environments. Its functionality complements other date and time tools, providing comprehensive options for managing temporal data in Unix-based systems.