expirydate

Expirydate is a label for the date after which a product, document, credential, or entitlement is no longer valid. The term is used across many domains: perishable goods carry use-by or best-before dates; medicines have expiration dates; consumer coupons have expiry dates; warranties and licenses specify term lengths; digital systems may tie access, tokens, or subscriptions to an expiry date. In software and data design, expirydate is a common field name in databases or APIs.

Data representation and interpretation vary by context. Expirydate may be stored as a calendar date (for example YYYY-MM-DD), a timestamp, or as an offset from another date. The rule for validity can differ: some systems consider the item valid through the expiry date (inclusive) and invalid immediately after, while others use a strict cutoff at the moment after expiry. Time zone and localization matter; storing dates in a standard format such as ISO 8601 and using UTC can reduce ambiguity. Validation typically involves checking the current date against expirydate and enforcing any grace period or renewal policy.

Practical considerations include clear documentation of what expirydate represents, including whether the date is inclusive and what the expiry applies to (the entire item or a part of it). When implementing, use appropriate data types and constraints, and include tests for boundary cases. Handle missing values gracefully and present user-friendly messages about status and renewal options. Related concepts include expiration date, use-by date, and best-before date.