# Format fields of API return data

**URL:** <https://forum.bubble.io/t/format-fields-of-api-return-data/10483>\
**Category:** APIs\
**Created:** [February 13, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/format-fields-of-api-return-data/10483 "2017-02-13T18:56:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![woodbleak](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/user_avatar/forum.bubble.io/woodbleak/32/10160_2.png) [@woodbleak](https://forum.bubble.io/u/woodbleak)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/format-fields-of-api-return-data/10483/1 "2017-02-13T18:56:03Z")

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Hi,

I am wondering if it’s possible to format fields of data returned by API endpoints? This is what bubble’s API endpoint returns at the moment:

 ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/original/2X/7/7e167116b8fbd1ca6a0beff6acb678e414cd7a58.png)

And the start\_date is a unix timestamp - what if I want to return this field in the format “Feb 11, 2017”? Is that possible?

Thanks!

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**Author:** ![pengx26](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/user_avatar/forum.bubble.io/pengx26/32/1455_2.png) [@pengx26](https://forum.bubble.io/u/pengx26)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/format-fields-of-api-return-data/10483/2 "2017-02-13T18:59:04Z")

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For the unix timestamp, you can use a timestamp converter to get in back in the normal format:  
[http://www.convert-unix-time.com/api](http://www.convert-unix-time.com/api)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![woodbleak](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/user_avatar/forum.bubble.io/woodbleak/32/10160_2.png) [@woodbleak](https://forum.bubble.io/u/woodbleak)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/format-fields-of-api-return-data/10483/3 "2017-02-13T19:07:14Z")

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Right. But is it possible to define the format of a field returned by the API endpoint? Which is here:

 ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/original/2X/4/432513c0b13f20694c64dce6e4d08a724214aec5.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mishav](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/bubble/user_avatar/forum.bubble.io/mishav/32/6420_2.png) [@mishav](https://forum.bubble.io/u/mishav)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2017, 6:49am UTC](https://forum.bubble.io/t/format-fields-of-api-return-data/10483/4 "2017-02-14T06:49:44Z")

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> [@pengx26](#):
>
> For the unix timestamp, you can use a timestamp converter to get in back in the normal format

As far as I know, Bubble will import the unix format (date since 1970 in milliseconds) to a date, so converting it first shouldn’t be necessary. Once it is stored in the database as a date, it can be displayed in your own format and timezone.

> [@woodbleak](#):
>
> is it possible to define the format of a field returned by the API endpoint

I _think_ to specify individual parts of the job, you might need to remove job as a parameter, and add the others, example “start\_date” as date, “title” as text.

There are some samples from different people trying this in:

> **[Bubble Editor - Forumapp3](https://bubble.io/page?type=api&id=forumapp3&tab=tabs-2)**
>
> Build stuff without code and launch a startup without a tech-cofounder! Bubble is a visual programing language. Instead of typing code, use a visual editor to build applications.

I suggest searching this forum for “endpoint”, this has been discussed before.