Framer Adds Relative Dates to CMS for Dynamic, Localized Content Display.

Framer has launched Relative Dates in its CMS, allowing creators to display date-based content using natural language like "Today," "Yesterday," or "1 week ago." The feature automatically updates without manual intervention, maintaining fresh content displays while preserving styling and supporting multiple locales.

The update addresses a common pain point for content-heavy sites: keeping date references current. Instead of manually updating timestamps or relying on static dates that quickly feel outdated, creators can now set dates to display relatively. A blog post published three days ago will show "3 days ago" to today's visitor, then automatically shift to "4 days ago" tomorrow.

Relative Dates integrate directly into Framer's existing CMS date fields. When configuring a date field, creators can choose to display it in relative format. The system handles the conversion automatically based on the visitor's current time, updating the display each time the page loads.

The feature includes full localization support, meaning relative date text adapts to different languages and regional conventions. A French locale might display "il y a 2 jours" while English shows "2 days ago," all while maintaining the visual design applied to the date field.

The functionality suits several common scenarios. News sites and blogs can display article ages without manual updates. Event calendars can show countdowns or time-since-event automatically. Product update feeds can highlight recency without requiring editors to touch published content.

Framer's implementation preserves existing design systems. Relative dates respect typography settings, color schemes, and layout constraints already applied to date fields. This means adding the feature doesn't require redesigning components or adjusting styles.

The timing follows Framer's recent focus on CMS capabilities and localization features. The platform recently introduced Auto Translate, which automatically syncs content across locales using AI translation models. Relative Dates extend this multilingual approach to dynamic date displays, ensuring time references feel natural regardless of the visitor's language.

Relative date calculations happen client-side, meaning the displayed text updates based on when the visitor loads the page. This approach ensures accuracy without requiring server-side processing or cache invalidation strategies. The trade-off is that search engines and social media previews see a snapshot rather than a relative value.

For creators managing content across platforms like Webflow or Bubble, Framer's approach offers a simpler implementation than custom code solutions. The feature works out of the box without JavaScript or plugin dependencies.

Framer announced the update on LinkedIn, directing users to documentation for setup details. The feature is available now to all Framer users with CMS access, requiring no plan upgrades or feature flags.