Input masking is always active in the date picker, providing real-time formatting guidance and automatic calendar updates as users type. No configuration needed - it just works!

The masking system automatically adapts to your date-format-mask setting, inserting separators and updating the calendar in real-time as valid date segments are entered.

How Input Masking Works

Always-on automatic formatting

Live Demo

Try typing: 12252024 - watch it become 12/25/2024 with separators auto-inserted

Notice the calendar updates as soon as you type a valid month

Key Behaviors
Real-Time Behaviors
  • Auto-separators - Typing 12 adds / automatically
  • Progressive parsing - Calendar updates as you type valid segments
  • Leading zero padding - Single digits padded when typing separator
  • Paste formatting - Pasted text cleaned and formatted
Example Flow (MM/DD/YYYY)
  1. Type 1 → Shows 1
  2. Type 2 → Shows 12, auto-adds /
  3. Type 2 → Shows 12/2
  4. Type 5 → Shows 12/25, auto-adds /, calendar updates to December
  5. Type 2024 → Shows 12/25/2024, calendar shows Dec 2024 with 25th highlighted
Details
Key Features
  • Always active - No configuration needed
  • Format-aware - Adapts to any date-format-mask
  • Non-intrusive - Works naturally, doesn't block input
  • Progressive update - Calendar updates as you type valid segments
No Configuration Required

Unlike some date pickers, input masking is not a toggle. It's always enabled and automatically adapts to your date format.

Calendar Integration

As you type valid date segments (month, then month+day, then full date), the calendar automatically:

  • Navigates to the correct month
  • Highlights the selected day
  • Updates the selection when complete date is entered

Automatic Format Adaptation

Masking adapts to any date format

Live Demos
US Format (MM/DD/YYYY)

Type: 12252024

European Format (DD.MM.YYYY)

Type: 25122024

ISO Format (YYYY-MM-DD)

Type: 20241225

Short Year (DD/MM/YY)

Type: 251224

Code Examples
HTML 
 
 
JavaScript 
 
 
 
Supported Formats
 
Supported Format Tokens
 
TokenDescriptionExample
YYYY4-digit year2024
YY2-digit year24
MM2-digit month01-12
M1 or 2-digit month1-12
DD2-digit day01-31
D1 or 2-digit day1-31
 
Supported Separators
 
  • / - Slash
    •  
  • - - Dash (hyphen)
    •  
  • . - Period (dot)
 
Single-Digit Tokens
 
Using M and D instead of MM and DD allows users to type 1/5/2024 instead of requiring 01/05/2024. The picker is smart enough to handle both!
 
Auto-Separator Insertion
 
Smart separator handling as you type
 
Live Demo
    
Type only numbers - separators appear automatically
 
Behaviors
 
Automatic Behaviors
 
  • After month - Type 12, get 12/
    •  
  • After day - Type 25 after month, get 12/25/
    •  
  • Manual separators - User can type separators too (optional)
    •  
  • Leading zeros - Type 1/, becomes 01/
 
Examples (MM/DD/YYYY)
 
You TypeDisplay ShowsWhy
11Waiting for 2nd digit
1212/Month complete, add separator
1/01/Single digit, pad with zero
12/212/2Day started
12/2512/25/Day complete, add separator
12/25/202412/25/2024Complete date!
 
Details
 
Smart Padding
 
When you type a separator after a single-digit month or day, the picker automatically pads it with a leading zero:
 
  • 1/ → 01/
    •  
  • 12/5/ → 12/05/
 
No Separator Typing Required
 
You can type 12252024 without any separators and get 12/25/2024. The picker inserts them automatically!
 
Or Type Separators Manually
 
You can also type 12/25/2024 with separators. The picker handles both approaches seamlessly.
 
Paste Support
 
Paste a date in almost any format and the picker will try to parse and reformat it:
 
  • Paste 12-25-2024 → Becomes 12/25/2024
    •  
  • Paste 25.12.2024 with DD.MM.YYYY format → Becomes 25.12.2024
 
Progressive Calendar Updates
 
Calendar updates as you type valid segments
 
Live Demo
  
Set to calendar-open-trigger="typing" to see calendar open as you type
 
Try typing 12252024 and watch the calendar navigate month-by-month
 
Update Triggers
 
HTML 
 
 
 
JavaScript 
 
 
 
Details
 
Update Sequence (MM/DD/YYYY)
 
  1. Month typed (12) → Calendar navigates to December (current or selected year)
    2.  
  2. Day typed (25) → Day 25 is highlighted in calendar
    3.  
  3. Year typed (2024) → Calendar shows December 2024 with 25th selected
 
Trigger Modes
 
  • focus - Calendar opens when input receives focus (default)
    •  
  • typing - Calendar opens when user starts typing
    •  
  • manual - Calendar only opens via button click
 
Benefits
 
  • Immediate visual feedback
    •  
  • Users see what they're typing in calendar context
    •  
  • Easier to spot typos or wrong months
    •  
  • Natural bi-directional sync between input and calendar
 
Partial Dates
 
Even incomplete dates update the calendar:
 
  • Type 12/ → Calendar shows December
    •  
  • Type 12/25/ → Calendar shows December with 25th highlighted
 
Range Mode Masking
 
Separate inputs with independent masking
 
Live Demo
  
Range mode creates two input fields, each with independent masking
 
Code Examples
 
HTML 
 
 
 
JavaScript 
 
 
 
Details
 
Range Behavior
 
  • Two input fields: Start date and End date
    •  
  • Each input has independent masking
    •  
  • Same format used for both inputs
    •  
  • Both update calendar as you type
 
No Separate Start/End Formats
 
Both the start and end inputs use the same date-format-mask. The picker does not support different formats for start vs end dates.
 
Keyboard Navigation
 
  • Tab - Move from Start input to End input
    •  
  • Enter - When end date typed, select the range
    •  
  • Escape - Close calendar without selecting
 
Best Practices
 
Getting the most from input masking
 
Recommendations
 
✅ Do
 
  • Use display-format-mask to show localized format hints
    •  
  • Set appropriate placeholder to guide users
    •  
  • Choose calendar-open-trigger based on your UX needs
    •  
  • Test with keyboard-only users
 
❌ Don't
 
  • Try to disable input masking (it's always on)
    •  
  • Use different formats for start/end in range mode (not supported)
    •  
  • Expect validation events (use date-select event instead)
 
Common Patterns
 
Good Patterns 
 
 
 
Tips
 
Accessibility
 
  • Input masking works with screen readers
    •  
  • Clear placeholder helps all users understand format
    •  
  • Progressive updates provide immediate feedback
 
Internationalization
 
Use display-format-mask to show localized format hints while using English tokens for parsing:
 
  • date-format-mask="YYYY-MM-DD" - For parsing (always English)
    •  
  • display-format-mask="aaaa-mm-dd" - Visual hint in Spanish
 
Validation
 
Listen to the date-select event for validated, complete date selections:
 
 
 
 
Common Questions
 
 
No. Input masking is always enabled and is a core part of how the date picker works. It's designed to be non-intrusive and helpful, working seamlessly with manual typing.
 
 
No. Both the start and end inputs use the same date-format-mask. This ensures consistency and prevents user confusion.
 
 
Use the date-select event which only fires when a valid, complete date or range is selected:
 
 
 
 
You can also use min-date, max-date, and disabled-weekdays for built-in validation.
 
 
The input masking will allow you to type it, but:
 
  • The calendar won't update (since month 13 doesn't exist)
    •  
  • The date-select event won't fire (invalid date)
    •  
  • The input will show what you typed but nothing is selected
 
Users can use the calendar to correct their selection, or clear and retype.
 
 
Yes. The input masking is implemented as standard input value changes, which screen readers detect and announce. The placeholder also provides format guidance for screen reader users.
 
 
Yes! The picker attempts to parse and reformat pasted content. For best results, paste dates in a format close to your configured date-format-mask.
 
Examples that work well:
 
  • Paste 12/25/2024 with MM/DD/YYYY format ✓
    •  
  • Paste 12-25-2024 with MM/DD/YYYY format ✓ (separator mismatch handled)
    •  
  • Paste 2024-12-25 with YYYY-MM-DD format ✓