refactor: centralize duplicated formatDate helper

21 files defined their own local formatDate (with three different output
formats: date, datetime, datetime-seconds, and varying null fallbacks).
Replace them with a single shared helper at src/lib/format-date.ts that
takes a variant + optional fallback, preserving the exact previous output
per call site (verified identical string results).

Removes ~21 copies of the same logic. photos.tsx and media-grid.tsx keep
their epoch-ms based formatters since those are a different input shape.

Verified: tsc --noEmit clean, full test suite green (301/301).

src/app/(site)/help/tickets/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { redirect } from "next/navigation";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
 import { createTicket } from "@/actions/help-tickets";
 import { ContentCard, EmptyState, StatBlock } from "@/components/public/ui";
@@ -7,9 +8,6 @@ import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
 
 export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 16).replace("T", " ") : "";
-}
 
 export default async function HelpTicketsPage() {
 	const session = await auth();
@@ -101,7 +99,7 @@ export default async function HelpTicketsPage() {
 											{t2.open ? t("statusOpen") : t("statusClosed")}
 										</span>
 									</td>
-									<td className="muted">{formatDate(t2.createdAt)}</td>
+									<td className="muted">{formatDate(t2.createdAt, "datetime", "")}</td>
 								</tr>
 							))}
 						</tbody>

src/app/(site)/news/[slug]/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { Metadata } from "next";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { notFound } from "next/navigation";
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
@@ -45,9 +46,6 @@ const REACTIONS: { key: string; emoji: string }[] = [
 	{ key: "wow", emoji: "😮" },
 ];
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null | undefined): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 10) : "";
-}
 
 export default async function ArticlePage({
 	params,
@@ -262,7 +260,7 @@ export default async function ArticlePage({
 											<span>{t("userNumber", { id: c.userId })}</span>
 										)}
 										{c.createdAt ? (
-											<span> · {formatDate(c.createdAt)}</span>
+											<span> · {formatDate(c.createdAt, "date", "")}</span>
 										) : null}
 									</p>
 									<p style={{ margin: 0, whiteSpace: "pre-wrap" }}>

src/app/(site)/news/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import Image from "next/image";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
 import { ContentCard, EmptyState } from "@/components/public/ui";
@@ -9,9 +10,6 @@ export const revalidate = 300;
 
 export const metadata = { title: "News" };
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 10) : "";
-}
 
 export default async function NewsPage() {
 	const t = await getTranslations("pages.news");
@@ -99,7 +97,7 @@ export default async function NewsPage() {
 										className="muted"
 										style={{ margin: "0.35rem 0 0.6rem", fontSize: "0.78rem" }}
 									>
-										{formatDate(a.createdAt)}
+										{formatDate(a.createdAt, "date", "")}
 									</p>
 									<p
 										style={{

src/app/(site)/radio/contests/[id]/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import Link from "next/link";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { notFound } from "next/navigation";
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
 import { ContentCard } from "@/components/public/ui";
@@ -6,9 +7,6 @@ import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
 
 export const revalidate = 300;
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null | undefined): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 19).replace("T", " ") : "";
-}
 
 export default async function RadioContestDetailPage({
 	params,
@@ -63,15 +61,15 @@ export default async function RadioContestDetailPage({
 						<tr>
 							<th>Period</th>
 							<td>
-								{contest.startDate ? formatDate(contest.startDate) : "—"}
+								{contest.startDate ? formatDate(contest.startDate, "datetime-seconds", "") : "—"}
 								{" — "}
-								{contest.endDate ? formatDate(contest.endDate) : "ongoing"}
+								{contest.endDate ? formatDate(contest.endDate, "datetime-seconds", "") : "ongoing"}
 							</td>
 						</tr>
 						<tr>
 							<th>Created</th>
 							<td>
-								{formatDate(contest.createdAt) || (
+								{formatDate(contest.createdAt, "datetime-seconds", "") || (
 									<span className="muted">—</span>
 								)}
 							</td>
@@ -79,7 +77,7 @@ export default async function RadioContestDetailPage({
 						<tr>
 							<th>Updated</th>
 							<td>
-								{formatDate(contest.updatedAt) || (
+								{formatDate(contest.updatedAt, "datetime-seconds", "") || (
 									<span className="muted">—</span>
 								)}
 							</td>

src/app/(site)/radio/contests/page.tsx

@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
 import Link from "next/link";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
 import { ContentCard, EmptyState } from "@/components/public/ui";
 import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
 
 export const revalidate = 300;
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null | undefined): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 10) : "";
-}
 
 export default async function RadioContestsPage() {
 	const t = await getTranslations("pages.radioContests");
@@ -67,7 +65,7 @@ export default async function RadioContestsPage() {
 										style={{ margin: 0, fontSize: "0.85rem" }}
 									>
 										{c.startDate
-											? `${formatDate(c.startDate)} — ${c.endDate ? formatDate(c.endDate) : "ongoing"}`
+											? `${formatDate(c.startDate, "date", "")} — ${c.endDate ? formatDate(c.endDate, "date", "") : "ongoing"}`
 											: t("dateUnknown")}
 									</p>
 								</Link>

src/app/(site)/radio/giveaways/[id]/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import Link from "next/link";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { notFound } from "next/navigation";
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
 import { ContentCard } from "@/components/public/ui";
@@ -6,9 +7,6 @@ import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
 
 export const revalidate = 300;
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null | undefined): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 19).replace("T", " ") : "";
-}
 
 export default async function RadioGiveawayDetailPage({
 	params,
@@ -68,15 +66,15 @@ export default async function RadioGiveawayDetailPage({
 						<tr>
 							<th>Period</th>
 							<td>
-								{giveaway.startDate ? formatDate(giveaway.startDate) : "—"}
+								{giveaway.startDate ? formatDate(giveaway.startDate, "datetime-seconds", "") : "—"}
 								{" — "}
-								{giveaway.endDate ? formatDate(giveaway.endDate) : "ongoing"}
+								{giveaway.endDate ? formatDate(giveaway.endDate, "datetime-seconds", "") : "ongoing"}
 							</td>
 						</tr>
 						<tr>
 							<th>Created</th>
 							<td>
-								{formatDate(giveaway.createdAt) || (
+								{formatDate(giveaway.createdAt, "datetime-seconds", "") || (
 									<span className="muted">—</span>
 								)}
 							</td>
@@ -84,7 +82,7 @@ export default async function RadioGiveawayDetailPage({
 						<tr>
 							<th>Updated</th>
 							<td>
-								{formatDate(giveaway.updatedAt) || (
+								{formatDate(giveaway.updatedAt, "datetime-seconds", "") || (
 									<span className="muted">—</span>
 								)}
 							</td>

src/app/(site)/radio/giveaways/page.tsx

@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
 import Link from "next/link";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
 import { ContentCard, EmptyState } from "@/components/public/ui";
 import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
 
 export const revalidate = 300;
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null | undefined): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 10) : "";
-}
 
 export default async function RadioGiveawaysPage() {
 	const t = await getTranslations("pages.radioGiveaways");
@@ -74,7 +72,7 @@ export default async function RadioGiveawaysPage() {
 										style={{ margin: 0, fontSize: "0.85rem" }}
 									>
 										{g.startDate
-											? `${formatDate(g.startDate)} — ${g.endDate ? formatDate(g.endDate) : "ongoing"}`
+											? `${formatDate(g.startDate, "date", "")} — ${g.endDate ? formatDate(g.endDate, "date", "") : "ongoing"}`
 											: t("dateUnknown")}
 									</p>
 								</Link>

src/app/(site)/radio/requests/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { submitRequest } from "@/actions/radio-requests";
 import { ContentCard, EmptyState } from "@/components/public/ui";
 import { auth } from "@/lib/auth";
@@ -6,9 +7,6 @@ import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
 
 export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null | undefined): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 16).replace("T", " ") : "";
-}
 
 export default async function RadioRequestsPage() {
 	const t = await getTranslations("pages.radioRequests");
@@ -136,7 +134,7 @@ export default async function RadioRequestsPage() {
 											)}
 										</td>
 										<td className="muted">
-											{r.submittedAt ? formatDate(r.submittedAt) : "—"}
+											{r.submittedAt ? formatDate(r.submittedAt, "datetime", "") : "—"}
 										</td>
 										<td>{status}</td>
 									</tr>

src/app/(site)/radio/shouts/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { postShout } from "@/actions/radio-shouts";
 import { ContentCard, EmptyState } from "@/components/public/ui";
 import { auth } from "@/lib/auth";
@@ -8,9 +9,6 @@ import { siteSettings } from "@/lib/services/site-settings";
 
 export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null | undefined): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 16).replace("T", " ") : "";
-}
 
 export default async function RadioShoutsPage() {
 	const t = await getTranslations("pages.radioShouts");
@@ -124,7 +122,7 @@ export default async function RadioShoutsPage() {
 									<div style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0 }}>
 										<p style={{ margin: "0 0 0.25rem" }}>
 											<strong>{author?.username ?? `User #${s.userId}`}</strong>{" "}
-											<span className="muted">{formatDate(s.createdAt)}</span>
+											<span className="muted">{formatDate(s.createdAt, "datetime", "")}</span>
 										</p>
 										<p style={{ margin: 0 }}>{s.message}</p>
 									</div>

src/app/(site)/u/[username]/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { Metadata } from "next";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { notFound } from "next/navigation";
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
@@ -47,9 +48,6 @@ function formatTimestamp(ts: number | null | undefined): string {
 	return new Date(ts * 1000).toISOString().slice(0, 10);
 }
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null | undefined): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 10) : "";
-}
 
 export default async function ProfilePage({
 	params,
@@ -565,7 +563,7 @@ export default async function ProfilePage({
 											<strong>
 												{author?.username ?? t("unknownUser", { id: g.userId })}
 											</strong>{" "}
-											<span className="muted">{formatDate(g.createdAt)}</span>
+											<span className="muted">{formatDate(g.createdAt, "date", "")}</span>
 										</p>
 										<p style={{ margin: 0 }}>{g.message}</p>
 									</div>

src/app/admin/applications/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { ClipboardList } from "lucide-react";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
 import { dismissApplication } from "@/actions/admin-applications";
@@ -17,9 +18,6 @@ type ApplicationRow = {
 	createdAt: Date | null;
 };
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 16).replace("T", " ") : "—";
-}
 
 export default async function AdminApplications() {
 	const { session, permissions } = await getAdminContext();
@@ -105,7 +103,7 @@ export default async function AdminApplications() {
 										</span>
 									</div>
 									<p className="text-xs theme-text-muted dark:theme-text-muted m-0 mb-2">
-										{formatDate(a.createdAt)}
+										{formatDate(a.createdAt, "datetime", "—")}
 									</p>
 									<p className="text-sm text-[var(--admin-text)] whitespace-pre-wrap m-0 mb-3">
 										{a.content}

src/app/admin/ip/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import {
 	addBlacklist,
 	addWhitelist,
@@ -19,9 +20,6 @@ type IpRow = {
 	createdAt: Date | null;
 };
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 16).replace("T", " ") : "—";
-}
 
 export default async function AdminIp() {
 	const { session, permissions } = await getAdminContext();
@@ -113,7 +111,7 @@ export default async function AdminIp() {
 												{w.asn ?? "—"}
 											</td>
 											<td className="text-sm theme-text-muted dark:theme-text-muted whitespace-nowrap">
-												{formatDate(w.createdAt)}
+												{formatDate(w.createdAt, "datetime", "—")}
 											</td>
 											<td>
 												<form action={deleteWhitelist}>
@@ -175,7 +173,7 @@ export default async function AdminIp() {
 												{b.asn ?? "—"}
 											</td>
 											<td className="text-sm theme-text-muted dark:theme-text-muted whitespace-nowrap">
-												{formatDate(b.createdAt)}
+												{formatDate(b.createdAt, "datetime", "—")}
 											</td>
 											<td>
 												<form action={deleteBlacklist}>

src/app/admin/radio/api-keys/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import {
 	createApiKey,
 	deleteApiKey,
@@ -23,9 +24,6 @@ type ApiKey = {
 	createdAt: Date | null;
 };
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 16).replace("T", " ") : "\u2014";
-}
 
 function maskKey(key: string): string {
 	return key.length > 8 ? `${key.slice(0, 8)}\u2026` : key;
@@ -204,10 +202,10 @@ export default async function AdminRadioApiKeysPage() {
 											{k.rateLimit}/min
 										</td>
 										<td className="text-sm theme-text-muted dark:theme-text-muted whitespace-nowrap">
-											{formatDate(k.lastUsedAt)}
+											{formatDate(k.lastUsedAt, "datetime", "\u2014")}
 										</td>
 										<td className="text-sm theme-text-muted dark:theme-text-muted whitespace-nowrap">
-											{formatDate(k.expiresAt)}
+											{formatDate(k.expiresAt, "datetime", "\u2014")}
 										</td>
 										<td>
 											<span

src/app/admin/radio/autodj/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import Image from "next/image";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
 import {
 	createTrack,
@@ -32,9 +33,6 @@ function formatDuration(seconds: number | null): string {
 	return `${m}:${String(s).padStart(2, "0")}`;
 }
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 16).replace("T", " ") : "\u2014";
-}
 
 export default async function AdminRadioAutoDjPage() {
 	const t = await getTranslations("pages.admin.radio");
@@ -269,7 +267,7 @@ export default async function AdminRadioAutoDjPage() {
 											{track.playCount}
 										</td>
 										<td className="text-sm theme-text-muted dark:theme-text-muted whitespace-nowrap">
-											{formatDate(track.lastPlayedAt)}
+											{formatDate(track.lastPlayedAt, "datetime", "\u2014")}
 										</td>
 										<td>
 											<span

src/app/admin/radio/banners/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import NextImage from "next/image";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
 import {
 	createRadioBanner,
@@ -21,9 +22,6 @@ type Banner = {
 	createdAt: Date | null;
 };
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 16).replace("T", " ") : "\u2014";
-}
 
 export default async function AdminRadioBannersPage() {
 	const t = await getTranslations("pages.admin.radio");
@@ -180,7 +178,7 @@ export default async function AdminRadioBannersPage() {
 									<strong>#{String(b.id)}</strong>
 									<span className="text-sm theme-text-muted dark:theme-text-muted inline-flex gap-2 items-center">
 										{t("banners.byUser", { id: String(b.userId) })} ·{" "}
-										{formatDate(b.createdAt)} ·{" "}
+										{formatDate(b.createdAt, "datetime", "\u2014")} ·{" "}
 										<span
 											className={`inline-block text-[0.72rem] font-bold px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full ${b.isActive ? "bg-[var(--admin-success-subtle)] text-[var(--admin-text)]" : "bg-[var(--admin-error-subtle)] text-[var(--admin-text)]"}`}
 										>

src/app/admin/radio/history/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { StatusCard } from "@/components/admin/dashboard";
 import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
 
@@ -14,9 +15,6 @@ type History = {
 	notes: string | null;
 };
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 16).replace("T", " ") : "\u2014";
-}
 
 function formatDuration(start: Date, end: Date | null): string {
 	if (!end) return "\u2014";
@@ -137,12 +135,12 @@ export default async function AdminRadioHistoryPage() {
 									</td>
 									<td>{h.showName ?? "\u2014"}</td>
 									<td className="text-sm theme-text-muted dark:theme-text-muted whitespace-nowrap">
-										{formatDate(h.startedAt)}
+										{formatDate(h.startedAt, "datetime", "\u2014")}
 									</td>
 									<td>
 										{h.endedAt ? (
 											<span className="text-sm theme-text-muted dark:theme-text-muted">
-												{formatDate(h.endedAt)}
+												{formatDate(h.endedAt, "datetime", "\u2014")}
 											</span>
 										) : (
 											<span className="inline-block text-[0.72rem] font-bold px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-[var(--admin-success-subtle)] text-[var(--admin-text)]">

src/app/admin/radio/moderation/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { deleteShout } from "@/actions/admin-radio-moderation";
 import { StatusCard } from "@/components/admin/dashboard";
 import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
@@ -13,9 +14,6 @@ type Shout = {
 	updatedAt: Date | null;
 };
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 16).replace("T", " ") : "\u2014";
-}
 
 export default async function AdminRadioModerationPage() {
 	const t = await getTranslations("pages.admin.radio");
@@ -72,7 +70,7 @@ export default async function AdminRadioModerationPage() {
 									<td>{String(s.userId)}</td>
 									<td>{s.message}</td>
 									<td className="text-sm theme-text-muted dark:theme-text-muted whitespace-nowrap">
-										{formatDate(s.createdAt)}
+										{formatDate(s.createdAt, "datetime", "\u2014")}
 									</td>
 									<td>
 										<form action={deleteShout}>

src/app/admin/radio/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { deleteShout } from "@/actions/admin-radio-moderation";
 import { StatusCard } from "@/components/admin/dashboard";
 import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
@@ -33,9 +34,6 @@ type Schedule = {
 	isActive: boolean;
 };
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 16).replace("T", " ") : "\u2014";
-}
 
 function formatTime(d: Date | null): string {
 	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(11, 16) : "\u2014";
@@ -162,7 +160,7 @@ export default async function AdminRadioPage() {
 									<td>{String(s.userId)}</td>
 									<td>{s.message}</td>
 									<td className="text-sm theme-text-muted dark:theme-text-muted">
-										{formatDate(s.createdAt)}
+										{formatDate(s.createdAt, "datetime", "\u2014")}
 									</td>
 									<td>
 										<form action={deleteShout}>
@@ -218,7 +216,7 @@ export default async function AdminRadioPage() {
 										</span>
 									</td>
 									<td className="text-sm theme-text-muted dark:theme-text-muted">
-										{formatDate(a.createdAt)}
+										{formatDate(a.createdAt, "datetime", "\u2014")}
 									</td>
 								</tr>
 							))}

src/app/admin/tags/page.tsx

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { getTranslations } from "next-intl/server";
+import { formatDate } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { createTag, deleteTag, updateTag } from "@/actions/admin-tags";
 import { StatusCard } from "@/components/admin/dashboard";
 import { prisma } from "@/lib/prisma";
@@ -14,9 +15,6 @@ type Tag = {
 	createdAt: Date | null;
 };
 
-function formatDate(d: Date | null): string {
-	return d ? d.toISOString().slice(0, 10) : "—";
-}
 
 export default async function AdminTagsPage() {
 	const { session, permissions } = await getAdminContext();
@@ -170,7 +168,7 @@ export default async function AdminTagsPage() {
 										</span>
 									</td>
 									<td className="text-sm theme-text-muted dark:theme-text-muted whitespace-nowrap">
-										{formatDate(tag.createdAt)}
+										{formatDate(tag.createdAt, "date", "—")}
 									</td>
 									<td>
 										<form

src/lib/format-date.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+export type DateFormatVariant = "date" | "datetime" | "datetime-seconds";
+
+const FALLBACKS: Record<DateFormatVariant, string> = {
+	date: "",
+	datetime: "—",
+	"datetime-seconds": "—",
+};
+
+/**
+ * Format a Date for display. Kept as a single shared helper so the various
+ * admin/site pages no longer each redefine their own copy.
+ *
+ * - "date"            → 2026-07-18
+ * - "datetime"        → 2026-07-18 18:30
+ * - "datetime-seconds"→ 2026-07-18 18:30:45
+ *
+ * `fallback` overrides the default em-dash / empty string when the value is
+ * null/undefined.
+ */
+export function formatDate(
+	d: Date | null | undefined,
+	variant: DateFormatVariant = "datetime",
+	fallback?: string,
+): string {
+	if (!d) return fallback ?? FALLBACKS[variant];
+	const iso = d.toISOString();
+	switch (variant) {
+		case "date":
+			return iso.slice(0, 10);
+		case "datetime-seconds":
+			return iso.slice(0, 19).replace("T", " ");
+		case "datetime":
+		default:
+			return iso.slice(0, 16).replace("T", " ");
+	}
+}