Get Local Datetime in n8n Function Node with Moment.js

This workflow provides a straightforward example of retrieving the local date and time within an n8n Function node using the moment.js library. It starts with a Manual Trigger node and connects to a Function node that requires moment.js (whitelisted via NODE_FUNCTION_ALLOW_EXTERNAL=moment environment variable) and uses the GENERIC_TIMEZONE env var to get accurate local time.

The Function code parses the current moment in the specified timezone, extracting year, month (zero-indexed), day, hour, minute, second, millisecond, and a formatted string. It outputs a JSON object with these values plus the full UTC moment object, making it easy to use in downstream nodes for logging, scheduling, or data processing.

Benefits include quick access to local time without complex node setups, ensuring timezone consistency across workflows, and saving development time. Use cases: timestamping records with local time, conditional logic based on time components, generating reports with proper dates, or integrating into larger automations like notifications or backups that require precise local timing.

Setup requires configuring GENERIC_TIMEZONE in n8n (see docs) and whitelisting moment.js. This is perfect for IT/Dev teams building reliable, timezone-aware automations.