# Dates and times

The following generators produce datetime values. Note that there are also category-specific generators that produce datetime values, such as a car model year or an IPO date.

For more information about these generators and how to configure them in the application, go to [dates-and-times](https://docs.tonic.ai/fabricate/rule-based-tables-and-columns/table-columns/generator-reference/dates-and-times "mention") in the generator reference.

## Datetime

Populates the column with a datetime value.

```json
{
  "name": string,
  "data_type": string,
  "generator": "Datetime",
  // Generator-specific fields
  "date_type": string, // Type of date value (absolute, relative, series)
  "date_only": boolean, // Whether to exclude the time portion
  // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  // Absolute
  "distribution": "normal"|"uniform", // Distribution type
  // Absolute - Uniform distribution
  "start_date": string, // Start date
  "end_date": string, // End date
  // Absolute - Normal distribution
  "start_date": string, // Centered on date
  "min": integer, // Minimum gap between datetimes
  "mean": string, // Mean gap between datetimes
  "date_unit": "milliseconds"|"seconds"|"minutes"|"hours"|"days"|"weeks"|
               "months"|"years",
               // Unit for the datetime gap
  "std_dev": string, // Standard deviation
  "max": integer, // Maximum gap between datetimes
  // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  // Relative
  "time_range_start_hour": string, // Start of range for before or after
  "time_range_end_hour": string, // End of range for before or after
  "date_unit": "milliseconds"|"seconds"|"minutes"|"hours"|"days"|"weeks"|
               "months"|"years",
               // Unit for the before or after time range
  "date_operator": string, // Whether range is before or after the base date
  "start_field": string, // Base date column for the range
  // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  // Series
  "start_date_type": "fixed"|"from_column",
  "start_field": string, //For from column start, the column
  "start_date": string, // For fixed start, the start date
  "partition_by_field": string, // Partition by column
  "order_by_field": string, // Order by column
  // Series - Limiting when the datetimes can occur
  "time_range_start_hour": string, // Start of hour range limit
  "time_range_end_hour": string, // End of hour range limit
  "date_only_weekdays": boolean, // Whether to limit to weekdays
  // Series - Interval configuration
  "distribution": string, // Interval distribution type
  "date_unit": "milliseconds"|"seconds"|"minutes"|"hours"|"days"|"weeks"|
               "months"|"years",
               // Interval unit
  // Series - Interval - Fixed
  "exact_value": integer, // Interval value
  // Series - Interval - Uniform
  "min": integer, // Minimum interval
  "max": integer, // Maximum interval
  // Series - Interval - Normal
  "min": integer, // Minimum interval
  "mean": string, // Mean interval
  "std_dev": string, // For normal distribution, standard deviation
  "max": integer, // Maximum interval
  // End generator-specific fields
  "percent_null": integer,
  "virtual": boolean,
  // Advanced options
  "primary_key": boolean, //Whether the column is a primary key.
  "index": boolean,  // Whether to index the column.
  "seed": string,  // Statistics seed to freeze the column value.
  "postprocessing_sql": string, // SQL script to run after data generation.
}
```

## Timezone (Global)

Populates the column with the name of a time zone from anywhere in the world. For example, Europe/Paris.

Uses the [general-column-configuration](https://docs.tonic.ai/fabricate/fabricate-api-and-cli/using-the-fabricate-api/data-model/api-column-attributes/general-column-configuration "mention").

## Timezone (US)

Populates the column with the name of a time zone that occurs in the United States. For example, US/Central.

Uses the [general-column-configuration](https://docs.tonic.ai/fabricate/fabricate-api-and-cli/using-the-fabricate-api/data-model/api-column-attributes/general-column-configuration "mention").