What is EPUB 2.0 Metadata "dc:date" Element?

EPUB 2.0 Metadata "dc:date" is an optional metadata element to specify the publishing date of the EPUB 2.0 book.

EPUB 2.0.1 specification adds one attribute, "event", to the "Dublin Core Metadata Element Set" standard on this "dc:date" element:

• opf:event - to specify the type of events this date is referring to. Suggeste event values are: creation, publication, and modification.

When using "dc:date" metadata element, you should follow the ISO 8601 standard specify a date, a date and time, or a full timestamp. For example:

  <metadata xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" 
    xmlns:opf="http://www.idpf.org/2007/opf">
    ...
    <dc:date opf:event="publication">2018-01-01T00:00:00Z</dc:date>

If you want to see an example of "dc:date" metadata, you can download this EPUB 2.0 book, Row-Your-Boat-2.0.epub. Unzip it and open package.opf. You see a "dc:date" metadata element.

⇒ EPUB 2.0 Metadata - dc:description Element

⇐ EPUB 2.0 Metadata - dc:subject Element

⇑ EPUB 2.0 Package Metadata

⇑⇑ EPUB FAQ and Tutorials