How to format a UTC date as a YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss string using NodeJS?

Deciphering UTC and time zones

When entering the labyrinth of UTC dates, hold firm to the fact that UTC is a universal time standard, consistent across time zones. Its steadfastness is observed as it remains unaffected by daylight saving shifts. This makes it perfect for consistent time references for your international users, no passports needed!

Mastering string manipulation

The fast answer unfolds the mystery of direct string manipulation of JavaScript's native ISO string. It extracts the date-time components like a master thief in the night. This approach is lightweight and doesn't bait the trap of additional libraries—a perfect choice if your task list isn't as long as Santa's.

However, for complex date-time heists like handling different time zones or irregular formats, NodeJS libraries might just be the backup you need.

Magic wand of libraries for the win

In our magical world, there abound libraries like date-fns, Luxon, and Day.js. They fast-track you from being a mere code scribe to a master of time with their powerful and human-readable syntax. It's like reading a spellbook, but void of ancient, cryptic TODO: comments. Stay clear from haunted libraries like Datejs; better-maintained alternatives like Tempus are your charm:

npm install tempus // Easy, wish everything was this simple.
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Alternatively, the dateformat library performs date formatting miracles with the simplicity of alohomenus:

npm install dateformat // Installing a time machine, no biggie.
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Inclusion and invocation in your NodeJS file is as easy as brewing a potion:

var dateFormat = require('dateformat');
console.log(dateFormat(new Date(), "yyyy-mm-dd HH:MM:ss")); // Voila! Your UTC date in all its glory.
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Enchanting Internationalization and diverse formats

The world of Intl.DateTimeFormat opens the gateways to internationalization wonders for the globally inclined magicians. Even though this arcane skill doesn't influence a UTC format, it shows the depth of customization options JavaScript gives us.

Keep your time zone compass handy

Like navigating through a forest at midnight, rounding corners of time zone differences can be tricky. Be vigilant! Don't trip over time offsets while parading around with methods like toUTCString, toLocaleString, or toString.

Bottling up the reusable magic

For frequent casting, seal the spell inside a magic bottle—a reusable function—that formats any date into UTC YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss format:

function formatUTCDate(date) {
  // New trick, a time sifter
  return date.toISOString().replace('T', ' ').substring(0, 19);
}
// Time, tamed into a line
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Calling forth the spell involves formatUTCDate(new Date()).

Being mindful of the spell's power and its limits

Potent libraries like a genie grant myriad wishes—features and flexibility. But great power brings great responsibilities. It can exponentially increase application complexity. Consider the weighing scale between functionality and simplicity, as if balancing on a broomstick. The size of the library and performance implications are also to be noted, akin to finding the perfect wand in Ollivander's shop.

Scroll and parchment work

Magical knowledge is often kept in repositories and mystical scrolls. For the dateformat library, it's stored in the good ol' "node-dateformat" GitHub repository filled with up-to-date documentation and usage examples.

For the timeless libraries like Moment.js, peruse through the library's suggestion for modern alternatives in their recommendations section, the wise words from the elder scrolls.