DateFormat

public abstract class DateFormat
extends UFormat

java.lang.Object
   ↳ java.text.Format
     ↳ android.icu.text.UFormat
       ↳ android.icu.text.DateFormat


[icu enhancement] ICU's replacement for DateFormat. Methods, fields, and other functionality specific to ICU are labeled '[icu]'.

DateFormat is an abstract class for date/time formatting subclasses which formats and parses dates or time in a language-independent manner. The date/time formatting subclass, such as SimpleDateFormat, allows for formatting (i.e., date -> text), parsing (text -> date), and normalization. The date is represented as a Date object or as the milliseconds since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 GMT.

DateFormat helps you to format and parse dates for any locale. Your code can be completely independent of the locale conventions for months, days of the week, or even the calendar format: lunar vs. solar. It provides many class methods for obtaining default date/time formatters based on the default for a given locale and a number of formatting styles or arbitrary "skeletons".

  1. The formatting styles include FULL, LONG, MEDIUM, and SHORT. More detail and examples of using these styles are provided in the method descriptions.
  2. The formatting styles only cover a fraction of the necessary usage. You often need to have just certain combinations of fields, like Month and Year, but have it to be formatted appropriate to a given locale. This is done using the (misnamed) getPatternInstance() method, supplying a skeleton. There are a number of constants that have common pre-defined skeletons, such as MINUTE_SECOND for something like "13:45" or YEAR_ABBR_MONTH for something like "Sept 2012".

To format a date for the current Locale, use one of the static factory methods:

 myString = DateFormat.getDateInstance().format(myDate);
 myString = DateFormat.getPatternInstance(DateFormat.YEAR_ABBR_MONTH).format(myDate);
 

If you are formatting multiple numbers, it is more efficient to get the format and use it multiple times so that the system doesn't have to fetch the information about the local language and country conventions multiple times.

 DateFormat df = DateFormat.getDateInstance();
 for (int i = 0; i < a.length; ++i) {
     output.println(df.format(myDate[i]) + "; ");
 }
 

To format a date for a different Locale, specify it in the call to getDateInstance().

 DateFormat df = DateFormat.getDateInstance(DateFormat.LONG, Locale.FRANCE);
 

You can use a DateFormat to parse also.

 myDate = df.parse(myString);
 

There are many static factory methods available. Use getDateInstance to get the normal date format for that country. Use getTimeInstance to get the time format for that country. Use getDateTimeInstance to get a date and time format. You can pass in different options to these factory methods to control the length of the result; from SHORT to MEDIUM to LONG to FULL. The exact result depends on the locale, but generally:

  • SHORT is completely numeric, such as 12.13.52 or 3:30pm
  • MEDIUM is longer, such as Jan 12, 1952
  • LONG is longer, such as January 12, 1952 or 3:30:32pm
  • FULL is pretty completely specified, such as Tuesday, April 12, 1952 AD or 3:30:42pm PST.

Use getPatternInstance to format with a skeleton. Typically this is with a predefined skeleton, like YEAR_ABBR_MONTH for something like "Sept 2012". If you don't want to use one of the predefined skeletons, you can supply your own. The skeletons are like the patterns in SimpleDateFormat, except they:

  1. only keep the field pattern letter and ignore all other parts in a pattern, such as space, punctuation, and string literals.
  2. are independent of the order of fields.
  3. ignore certain differences in the field's pattern letter length:
    1. For those non-digit calendar fields, the pattern letter length is important, such as MMM, MMMM, and MMMMM; E and EEEE, and the field's pattern letter length is honored.
    2. For the digit calendar fields, such as M or MM, d or dd, yy or yyyy, the field pattern length is ignored and the best match, which is defined in date time patterns, will be returned without honor the field pattern letter length in skeleton.

You can also set the time zone on the format if you wish. If you want even more control over the format or parsing, (or want to give your users more control), you can try casting the DateFormat you get from the factory methods to a SimpleDateFormat. This will work for the majority of countries; just remember to put it in a try block in case you encounter an unusual one.

You can also use forms of the parse and format methods with ParsePosition and FieldPosition to allow you to

  • progressively parse through pieces of a string.
  • align any particular field, or find out where it is for selection on the screen.

Synchronization

Date formats are not synchronized. It is recommended to create separate format instances for each thread. If multiple threads access a format concurrently, it must be synchronized externally.

Summary

Nested classes

class DateFormat.Field

The instances of this inner class are used as attribute keys and values in AttributedCharacterIterator that DateFormat.formatToCharacterIterator() method returns. 

Constants

String ABBR_GENERIC_TZ

[icu] Constant for generic non-location format, abbreviated if possible, such as PT; used in combinations date + time + zone, or time + zone.

String ABBR_MONTH

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with abbreviated month.

String ABBR_MONTH_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with abbreviated month and day.

String ABBR_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with abbreviated month, weekday, and day.

String ABBR_QUARTER

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with abbreviated quarter.

String ABBR_SPECIFIC_TZ

[icu] Constant for specific non-location format, abbreviated if possible, such as PDT; used in combinations date + time + zone, or time + zone.

String ABBR_UTC_TZ

[icu] Constant for localized GMT/UTC format, such as GMT+8:00 or HPG-8:00; used in combinations date + time + zone, or time + zone.

String ABBR_WEEKDAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with abbreviated weekday.

int AM_PM_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'a' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#AM_PM field.

int AM_PM_MIDNIGHT_NOON_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'b' field alignment.

int DATE_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'd' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#DATE field.

String DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with day.

int DAY_OF_WEEK_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'E' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#DAY_OF_WEEK field.

int DAY_OF_WEEK_IN_MONTH_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'F' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#DAY_OF_WEEK_IN_MONTH field.

int DAY_OF_YEAR_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'D' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#DAY_OF_YEAR field.

int DEFAULT

Constant for default style pattern.

int DOW_LOCAL_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'e' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#DOW_LOCAL field.

int ERA_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'G' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ERA field.

int EXTENDED_YEAR_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'u' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#EXTENDED_YEAR field.

int FLEXIBLE_DAY_PERIOD_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'B' field alignment.

int FRACTIONAL_SECOND_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'S' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MILLISECOND field.

int FULL

Constant for full style pattern.

String GENERIC_TZ

[icu] Constant for generic non-location format, such as Pacific Time; used in combinations date + time + zone, or time + zone.

String HOUR

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with hour, with the locale's preferred hour format (12 or 24).

int HOUR0_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'K' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#HOUR field.

int HOUR1_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'h' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#HOUR field.

String HOUR24

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with hour in 24-hour presentation.

String HOUR24_MINUTE

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with hour and minute in 24-hour presentation.

String HOUR24_MINUTE_SECOND

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with hour, minute, and second in 24-hour presentation.

String HOUR_MINUTE

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with hour and minute, with the locale's preferred hour format (12 or 24).

String HOUR_MINUTE_SECOND

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with hour, minute, and second, with the locale's preferred hour format (12 or 24).

int HOUR_OF_DAY0_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'H' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#HOUR_OF_DAY field.

int HOUR_OF_DAY1_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'k' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#HOUR_OF_DAY field.

int JULIAN_DAY_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'g' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#JULIAN_DAY field.

String LOCATION_TZ

[icu] Constant for generic location format, such as Los Angeles Time; used in combinations date + time + zone, or time + zone.

int LONG

Constant for long style pattern.

int MEDIUM

Constant for medium style pattern.

int MILLISECONDS_IN_DAY_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'A' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MILLISECONDS_IN_DAY field.

int MILLISECOND_FIELD

Alias for FRACTIONAL_SECOND_FIELD.

String MINUTE

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with minute.

int MINUTE_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'm' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MINUTE field.

String MINUTE_SECOND

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with minute and second.

String MONTH

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with month.

String MONTH_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with long month and day.

int MONTH_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'M' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MONTH field.

String MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with month, weekday, and day.

int NONE

[icu] Constant for empty style pattern.

String NUM_MONTH

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with numeric month.

String NUM_MONTH_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with numeric month and day.

String NUM_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with numeric month, weekday, and day.

String QUARTER

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with quarter.

int QUARTER_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'Q' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MONTH field.

int RELATIVE

[icu] Constant for relative style mask.

int RELATIVE_DEFAULT

[icu] Constant for relative default style pattern.

int RELATIVE_FULL

[icu] Constant for relative full style pattern.

int RELATIVE_LONG

[icu] Constant for relative style pattern.

int RELATIVE_MEDIUM

[icu] Constant for relative style pattern.

int RELATIVE_SHORT

[icu] Constant for relative style pattern.

String SECOND

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with second.

int SECOND_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 's' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#SECOND field.

int SHORT

Constant for short style pattern.

String SPECIFIC_TZ

[icu] Constant for specific non-location format, such as Pacific Daylight Time; used in combinations date + time + zone, or time + zone.

int STANDALONE_DAY_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'c' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#DAY_OF_WEEK field.

int STANDALONE_MONTH_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'L' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MONTH field.

int STANDALONE_QUARTER_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'q' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MONTH field.

int TIMEZONE_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'z' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields.

int TIMEZONE_GENERIC_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'v' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields.

int TIMEZONE_ISO_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'X' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields.

int TIMEZONE_ISO_LOCAL_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'x' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields.

int TIMEZONE_LOCALIZED_GMT_OFFSET_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'O' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields.

int TIMEZONE_RFC_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'Z' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields.

int TIMEZONE_SPECIAL_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'V' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields.

String WEEKDAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with weekday.

int WEEK_OF_MONTH_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'W' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#WEEK_OF_MONTH field.

int WEEK_OF_YEAR_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'w' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#WEEK_OF_YEAR field.

String YEAR

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year.

String YEAR_ABBR_MONTH

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year and abbreviated month.

String YEAR_ABBR_MONTH_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year, abbreviated month, and day.

String YEAR_ABBR_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year, abbreviated month, weekday, and day.

String YEAR_ABBR_QUARTER

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year and abbreviated quarter.

int YEAR_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'y' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#YEAR field.

String YEAR_MONTH

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year and month.

String YEAR_MONTH_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year, month, and day.

String YEAR_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year, month, weekday, and day.

int YEAR_NAME_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'U' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#YEAR field.

String YEAR_NUM_MONTH

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year and numeric month.

String YEAR_NUM_MONTH_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year, numeric month, and day.

String YEAR_NUM_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year, numeric month, weekday, and day.

String YEAR_QUARTER

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year and quarter.

int YEAR_WOY_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'Y' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#YEAR_WOY field.

Fields

protected Calendar calendar

The calendar that DateFormat uses to produce the time field values needed to implement date and time formatting.

protected NumberFormat numberFormat

The number formatter that DateFormat uses to format numbers in dates and times.

Protected constructors

DateFormat()

Creates a new date format.

Public methods

Object clone()

Overrides clone.

boolean equals(Object obj)

Overrides equals.

final StringBuffer format(Object obj, StringBuffer toAppendTo, FieldPosition fieldPosition)

Formats a time object into a time string.

StringBuffer format(Date date, StringBuffer toAppendTo, FieldPosition fieldPosition)

Formats a Date into a date/time string.

final String format(Date date)

Formats a Date into a date/time string.

abstract StringBuffer format(Calendar cal, StringBuffer toAppendTo, FieldPosition fieldPosition)

Formats a date into a date/time string.

static Locale[] getAvailableLocales()

Returns the set of locales for which DateFormats are installed.

boolean getBooleanAttribute(DateFormat.BooleanAttribute key)

Returns the current value for the specified BooleanAttribute for this instance if attribute is missing false is returned.

Calendar getCalendar()

Returns the calendar associated with this date/time formatter.

DisplayContext getContext(DisplayContext.Type type)

[icu] Get the formatter's DisplayContext value for the specified DisplayContext.Type, such as CAPITALIZATION.

static final DateFormat getDateInstance(int style, Locale aLocale)

Returns the date formatter with the given formatting style for the given locale.

static final DateFormat getDateInstance(Calendar cal, int dateStyle)

Creates a DateFormat object for the default locale that can be used to format dates in the calendar system specified by cal.

static final DateFormat getDateInstance(Calendar cal, int dateStyle, ULocale locale)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates in the calendar system specified by cal.

static final DateFormat getDateInstance()

Returns the date formatter with the default formatting style for the default FORMAT locale.

static final DateFormat getDateInstance(int style, ULocale locale)

Returns the date formatter with the given formatting style for the given locale.

static final DateFormat getDateInstance(Calendar cal, int dateStyle, Locale locale)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates in the calendar system specified by cal.

static final DateFormat getDateInstance(int style)

Returns the date formatter with the given formatting style for the default FORMAT locale.

static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance(int dateStyle, int timeStyle)

Returns the date/time formatter with the given date and time formatting styles for the default FORMAT locale.

static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance()

Returns the date/time formatter with the default formatting style for the default FORMAT locale.

static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance(Calendar cal, int dateStyle, int timeStyle, ULocale locale)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal.

static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance(Calendar cal, int dateStyle, int timeStyle, Locale locale)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal.

static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance(int dateStyle, int timeStyle, ULocale locale)

Returns the date/time formatter with the given formatting styles for the given locale.

static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance(int dateStyle, int timeStyle, Locale aLocale)

Returns the date/time formatter with the given formatting styles for the given locale.

static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance(Calendar cal, int dateStyle, int timeStyle)

Creates a DateFormat object for the default locale that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal.

static final DateFormat getInstance(Calendar cal, ULocale locale)

Returns a date/time formatter that uses the SHORT style for both the date and the time.

static final DateFormat getInstance(Calendar cal)

Returns a default date/time formatter that uses the SHORT style for both the date and the time.

static final DateFormat getInstance(Calendar cal, Locale locale)

Returns a date/time formatter that uses the SHORT style for both the date and the time.

static final DateFormat getInstance()

Returns a default date/time formatter that uses the SHORT style for both the date and the time.

static final DateFormat getInstanceForSkeleton(Calendar cal, String skeleton, Locale locale)

[icu] Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal.

static final DateFormat getInstanceForSkeleton(Calendar cal, String skeleton, ULocale locale)

[icu] Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal.

static final DateFormat getInstanceForSkeleton(String skeleton, ULocale locale)

[icu] Returns a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the given locale.

static final DateFormat getInstanceForSkeleton(String skeleton, Locale locale)

[icu] Returns a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the given locale.

static final DateFormat getInstanceForSkeleton(String skeleton)

[icu] Returns a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the default locale.

NumberFormat getNumberFormat()

Returns the number formatter which this date/time formatter uses to format and parse a time.

static final DateFormat getPatternInstance(String skeleton, Locale locale)

[icu] Returns a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the given locale.

static final DateFormat getPatternInstance(String skeleton, ULocale locale)

[icu] Returns a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the given locale.

static final DateFormat getPatternInstance(String skeleton)

[icu] Returns a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the default locale.

static final DateFormat getPatternInstance(Calendar cal, String skeleton, Locale locale)

[icu] Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal.

static final DateFormat getPatternInstance(Calendar cal, String skeleton, ULocale locale)

[icu] Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal.

static final DateFormat getTimeInstance(Calendar cal, int timeStyle)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format times in the calendar system specified by cal.

static final DateFormat getTimeInstance()

Gets the time formatter with the default formatting style for the default FORMAT locale.

static final DateFormat getTimeInstance(int style, ULocale locale)

Returns the time formatter with the given formatting style for the given locale.

static final DateFormat getTimeInstance(Calendar cal, int timeStyle, ULocale locale)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format times in the calendar system specified by cal.

static final DateFormat getTimeInstance(Calendar cal, int timeStyle, Locale locale)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format times in the calendar system specified by cal.

static final DateFormat getTimeInstance(int style)

Returns the time formatter with the given formatting style for the default FORMAT locale.

static final DateFormat getTimeInstance(int style, Locale aLocale)

Returns the time formatter with the given formatting style for the given locale.

TimeZone getTimeZone()

Returns the time zone.

int hashCode()

Overrides hashCode.

boolean isCalendarLenient()

Returns whether date/time parsing in the encapsulated Calendar object is lenient.

boolean isLenient()

Returns whether both date/time parsing in the encapsulated Calendar object and DateFormat whitespace & numeric processing is lenient.

Date parse(String text)

Parses a date/time string.

Date parse(String text, ParsePosition pos)

Parses a date/time string according to the given parse position.

abstract void parse(String text, Calendar cal, ParsePosition pos)

Parses a date/time string according to the given parse position.

Object parseObject(String source, ParsePosition pos)

Parses a date/time string into an Object.

DateFormat setBooleanAttribute(DateFormat.BooleanAttribute key, boolean value)

Sets a boolean attribute for this instance.

void setCalendar(Calendar newCalendar)

Sets the calendar to be used by this date format.

void setCalendarLenient(boolean lenient)

Specifies whether date/time parsing in the encapsulated Calendar object should be lenient.

void setContext(DisplayContext context)

[icu] Set a particular DisplayContext value in the formatter, such as CAPITALIZATION_FOR_STANDALONE.

void setLenient(boolean lenient)

Specifies whether date/time parsing is to be lenient.

void setNumberFormat(NumberFormat newNumberFormat)

Sets the number formatter.

void setTimeZone(TimeZone zone)

Sets the time zone for the calendar of this DateFormat object.

Inherited methods

Constants

ABBR_GENERIC_TZ

Added in API level 24
public static final String ABBR_GENERIC_TZ

[icu] Constant for generic non-location format, abbreviated if possible, such as PT; used in combinations date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "v"

ABBR_MONTH

Added in API level 24
public static final String ABBR_MONTH

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with abbreviated month.

Constant Value: "MMM"

ABBR_MONTH_DAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String ABBR_MONTH_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with abbreviated month and day. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "MMMd"

ABBR_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String ABBR_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with abbreviated month, weekday, and day. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "MMMEd"

ABBR_QUARTER

Added in API level 24
public static final String ABBR_QUARTER

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with abbreviated quarter.

Constant Value: "QQQ"

ABBR_SPECIFIC_TZ

Added in API level 24
public static final String ABBR_SPECIFIC_TZ

[icu] Constant for specific non-location format, abbreviated if possible, such as PDT; used in combinations date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "z"

ABBR_UTC_TZ

Added in API level 24
public static final String ABBR_UTC_TZ

[icu] Constant for localized GMT/UTC format, such as GMT+8:00 or HPG-8:00; used in combinations date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "ZZZZ"

ABBR_WEEKDAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String ABBR_WEEKDAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with abbreviated weekday.

Constant Value: "E"

AM_PM_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int AM_PM_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'a' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#AM_PM field.

Constant Value: 14 (0x0000000e)

AM_PM_MIDNIGHT_NOON_FIELD

Added in API level 28
public static final int AM_PM_MIDNIGHT_NOON_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'b' field alignment. No related Calendar field. This displays the fixed day period (am/pm/midnight/noon).

Constant Value: 35 (0x00000023)

DATE_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int DATE_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'd' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#DATE field.

Constant Value: 3 (0x00000003)

DAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with day.

Constant Value: "d"

DAY_OF_WEEK_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int DAY_OF_WEEK_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'E' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#DAY_OF_WEEK field.

Constant Value: 9 (0x00000009)

DAY_OF_WEEK_IN_MONTH_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int DAY_OF_WEEK_IN_MONTH_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'F' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#DAY_OF_WEEK_IN_MONTH field.

Constant Value: 11 (0x0000000b)

DAY_OF_YEAR_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int DAY_OF_YEAR_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'D' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#DAY_OF_YEAR field.

Constant Value: 10 (0x0000000a)

DEFAULT

Added in API level 24
public static final int DEFAULT

Constant for default style pattern. Its value is MEDIUM.

Constant Value: 2 (0x00000002)

DOW_LOCAL_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int DOW_LOCAL_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'e' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#DOW_LOCAL field.

Constant Value: 19 (0x00000013)

ERA_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int ERA_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'G' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ERA field.

Constant Value: 0 (0x00000000)

EXTENDED_YEAR_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int EXTENDED_YEAR_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'u' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#EXTENDED_YEAR field.

Constant Value: 20 (0x00000014)

FLEXIBLE_DAY_PERIOD_FIELD

Added in API level 28
public static final int FLEXIBLE_DAY_PERIOD_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'B' field alignment. No related Calendar field. This displays the flexible day period.

Constant Value: 36 (0x00000024)

FRACTIONAL_SECOND_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int FRACTIONAL_SECOND_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'S' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MILLISECOND field. Note: Time formats that use 'S' can display a maximum of three significant digits for fractional seconds, corresponding to millisecond resolution and a fractional seconds sub-pattern of SSS. If the sub-pattern is S or SS, the fractional seconds value will be truncated (not rounded) to the number of display places specified. If the fractional seconds sub-pattern is longer than SSS, the additional display places will be filled with zeros.

Constant Value: 8 (0x00000008)

FULL

Added in API level 24
public static final int FULL

Constant for full style pattern.

Constant Value: 0 (0x00000000)

GENERIC_TZ

Added in API level 24
public static final String GENERIC_TZ

[icu] Constant for generic non-location format, such as Pacific Time; used in combinations date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "vvvv"

HOUR

Added in API level 24
public static final String HOUR

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with hour, with the locale's preferred hour format (12 or 24).

Constant Value: "j"

HOUR0_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int HOUR0_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'K' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#HOUR field. HOUR0_FIELD is used for the zero-based 12-hour clock. For example, 11:30 PM + 1 hour results in 00:30 AM.

Constant Value: 16 (0x00000010)

HOUR1_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int HOUR1_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'h' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#HOUR field. HOUR1_FIELD is used for the one-based 12-hour clock. For example, 11:30 PM + 1 hour results in 12:30 AM.

Constant Value: 15 (0x0000000f)

HOUR24

Added in API level 24
public static final String HOUR24

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with hour in 24-hour presentation.

Constant Value: "H"

HOUR24_MINUTE

Added in API level 24
public static final String HOUR24_MINUTE

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with hour and minute in 24-hour presentation. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "Hm"

HOUR24_MINUTE_SECOND

Added in API level 24
public static final String HOUR24_MINUTE_SECOND

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with hour, minute, and second in 24-hour presentation. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "Hms"

HOUR_MINUTE

Added in API level 24
public static final String HOUR_MINUTE

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with hour and minute, with the locale's preferred hour format (12 or 24). Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "jm"

HOUR_MINUTE_SECOND

Added in API level 24
public static final String HOUR_MINUTE_SECOND

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with hour, minute, and second, with the locale's preferred hour format (12 or 24). Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "jms"

HOUR_OF_DAY0_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int HOUR_OF_DAY0_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'H' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#HOUR_OF_DAY field. HOUR_OF_DAY0_FIELD is used for the zero-based 24-hour clock. For example, 23:59 + 01:00 results in 00:59.

Constant Value: 5 (0x00000005)

HOUR_OF_DAY1_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int HOUR_OF_DAY1_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'k' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#HOUR_OF_DAY field. HOUR_OF_DAY1_FIELD is used for the one-based 24-hour clock. For example, 23:59 + 01:00 results in 24:59.

Constant Value: 4 (0x00000004)

JULIAN_DAY_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int JULIAN_DAY_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'g' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#JULIAN_DAY field.

Constant Value: 21 (0x00000015)

LOCATION_TZ

Added in API level 24
public static final String LOCATION_TZ

[icu] Constant for generic location format, such as Los Angeles Time; used in combinations date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "VVVV"

LONG

Added in API level 24
public static final int LONG

Constant for long style pattern.

Constant Value: 1 (0x00000001)

MEDIUM

Added in API level 24
public static final int MEDIUM

Constant for medium style pattern.

Constant Value: 2 (0x00000002)

MILLISECONDS_IN_DAY_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int MILLISECONDS_IN_DAY_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'A' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MILLISECONDS_IN_DAY field.

Constant Value: 22 (0x00000016)

MILLISECOND_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int MILLISECOND_FIELD

Alias for FRACTIONAL_SECOND_FIELD.

Constant Value: 8 (0x00000008)

MINUTE

Added in API level 24
public static final String MINUTE

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with minute.

Constant Value: "m"

MINUTE_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int MINUTE_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'm' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MINUTE field.

Constant Value: 6 (0x00000006)

MINUTE_SECOND

Added in API level 24
public static final String MINUTE_SECOND

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with minute and second. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "ms"

MONTH

Added in API level 24
public static final String MONTH

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with month.

Constant Value: "MMMM"

MONTH_DAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String MONTH_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with long month and day. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "MMMMd"

MONTH_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int MONTH_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'M' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MONTH field.

Constant Value: 2 (0x00000002)

MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with month, weekday, and day. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "MMMMEEEEd"

NONE

Added in API level 24
public static final int NONE

[icu] Constant for empty style pattern.

Constant Value: -1 (0xffffffff)

NUM_MONTH

Added in API level 24
public static final String NUM_MONTH

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with numeric month.

Constant Value: "M"

NUM_MONTH_DAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String NUM_MONTH_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with numeric month and day. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "Md"

NUM_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String NUM_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with numeric month, weekday, and day. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "MEd"

QUARTER

Added in API level 24
public static final String QUARTER

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with quarter.

Constant Value: "QQQQ"

QUARTER_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int QUARTER_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'Q' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MONTH field. This displays the quarter.

Constant Value: 27 (0x0000001b)

RELATIVE

Added in API level 24
public static final int RELATIVE

[icu] Constant for relative style mask.

Constant Value: 128 (0x00000080)

RELATIVE_DEFAULT

Added in API level 24
public static final int RELATIVE_DEFAULT

[icu] Constant for relative default style pattern.

Constant Value: 130 (0x00000082)

RELATIVE_FULL

Added in API level 24
public static final int RELATIVE_FULL

[icu] Constant for relative full style pattern.

Constant Value: 128 (0x00000080)

RELATIVE_LONG

Added in API level 24
public static final int RELATIVE_LONG

[icu] Constant for relative style pattern.

Constant Value: 129 (0x00000081)

RELATIVE_MEDIUM

Added in API level 24
public static final int RELATIVE_MEDIUM

[icu] Constant for relative style pattern.

Constant Value: 130 (0x00000082)

RELATIVE_SHORT

Added in API level 24
public static final int RELATIVE_SHORT

[icu] Constant for relative style pattern.

Constant Value: 131 (0x00000083)

SECOND

Added in API level 24
public static final String SECOND

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with second.

Constant Value: "s"

SECOND_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int SECOND_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 's' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#SECOND field.

Constant Value: 7 (0x00000007)

SHORT

Added in API level 24
public static final int SHORT

Constant for short style pattern.

Constant Value: 3 (0x00000003)

SPECIFIC_TZ

Added in API level 24
public static final String SPECIFIC_TZ

[icu] Constant for specific non-location format, such as Pacific Daylight Time; used in combinations date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "zzzz"

STANDALONE_DAY_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int STANDALONE_DAY_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'c' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#DAY_OF_WEEK field. This displays the stand alone day name, if available.

Constant Value: 25 (0x00000019)

STANDALONE_MONTH_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int STANDALONE_MONTH_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'L' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MONTH field. This displays the stand alone month name, if available.

Constant Value: 26 (0x0000001a)

STANDALONE_QUARTER_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int STANDALONE_QUARTER_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'q' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#MONTH field. This displays the stand alone quarter, if available.

Constant Value: 28 (0x0000001c)

TIMEZONE_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int TIMEZONE_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'z' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields.

Constant Value: 17 (0x00000011)

TIMEZONE_GENERIC_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int TIMEZONE_GENERIC_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'v' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields. This displays the generic zone name, if available.

Constant Value: 24 (0x00000018)

TIMEZONE_ISO_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int TIMEZONE_ISO_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'X' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields. This displays the ISO 8601 local time offset format or UTC indicator ("Z").

Constant Value: 32 (0x00000020)

TIMEZONE_ISO_LOCAL_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int TIMEZONE_ISO_LOCAL_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'x' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields. This displays the ISO 8601 local time offset format.

Constant Value: 33 (0x00000021)

TIMEZONE_LOCALIZED_GMT_OFFSET_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int TIMEZONE_LOCALIZED_GMT_OFFSET_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'O' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields. This displays the localized GMT format.

Constant Value: 31 (0x0000001f)

TIMEZONE_RFC_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int TIMEZONE_RFC_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'Z' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields.

Constant Value: 23 (0x00000017)

TIMEZONE_SPECIAL_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int TIMEZONE_SPECIAL_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'V' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#ZONE_OFFSET and Calendar#DST_OFFSET fields. This displays the fallback timezone name when VVVV is specified, and the short standard or daylight timezone name ignoring commonlyUsed when a single V is specified.

Constant Value: 29 (0x0000001d)

WEEKDAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String WEEKDAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with weekday.

Constant Value: "EEEE"

WEEK_OF_MONTH_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int WEEK_OF_MONTH_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'W' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#WEEK_OF_MONTH field.

Constant Value: 13 (0x0000000d)

WEEK_OF_YEAR_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int WEEK_OF_YEAR_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'w' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#WEEK_OF_YEAR field.

Constant Value: 12 (0x0000000c)

YEAR

Added in API level 24
public static final String YEAR

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year.

Constant Value: "y"

YEAR_ABBR_MONTH

Added in API level 24
public static final String YEAR_ABBR_MONTH

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year and abbreviated month.

Constant Value: "yMMM"

YEAR_ABBR_MONTH_DAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String YEAR_ABBR_MONTH_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year, abbreviated month, and day. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "yMMMd"

YEAR_ABBR_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String YEAR_ABBR_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year, abbreviated month, weekday, and day. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "yMMMEd"

YEAR_ABBR_QUARTER

Added in API level 24
public static final String YEAR_ABBR_QUARTER

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year and abbreviated quarter.

Constant Value: "yQQQ"

YEAR_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int YEAR_FIELD

FieldPosition selector for 'y' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#YEAR field.

Constant Value: 1 (0x00000001)

YEAR_MONTH

Added in API level 24
public static final String YEAR_MONTH

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year and month.

Constant Value: "yMMMM"

YEAR_MONTH_DAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String YEAR_MONTH_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year, month, and day. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "yMMMMd"

YEAR_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String YEAR_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year, month, weekday, and day. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "yMMMMEEEEd"

YEAR_NAME_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int YEAR_NAME_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'U' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#YEAR field. This displays the cyclic year name, if available.

Constant Value: 30 (0x0000001e)

YEAR_NUM_MONTH

Added in API level 24
public static final String YEAR_NUM_MONTH

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year and numeric month.

Constant Value: "yM"

YEAR_NUM_MONTH_DAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String YEAR_NUM_MONTH_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year, numeric month, and day. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "yMd"

YEAR_NUM_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

Added in API level 24
public static final String YEAR_NUM_MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year, numeric month, weekday, and day. Used in combinations date + time, date + time + zone, or time + zone.

Constant Value: "yMEd"

YEAR_QUARTER

Added in API level 24
public static final String YEAR_QUARTER

[icu] Constant for date skeleton with year and quarter.

Constant Value: "yQQQQ"

YEAR_WOY_FIELD

Added in API level 24
public static final int YEAR_WOY_FIELD

[icu] FieldPosition selector for 'Y' field alignment, corresponding to the Calendar#YEAR_WOY field.

Constant Value: 18 (0x00000012)

Fields

calendar

Added in API level 24
protected Calendar calendar

The calendar that DateFormat uses to produce the time field values needed to implement date and time formatting. Subclasses should initialize this to a calendar appropriate for the locale associated with this DateFormat.

numberFormat

Added in API level 24
protected NumberFormat numberFormat

The number formatter that DateFormat uses to format numbers in dates and times. Subclasses should initialize this to a number format appropriate for the locale associated with this DateFormat.

Protected constructors

DateFormat

Added in API level 24
protected DateFormat ()

Creates a new date format.

Public methods

clone

Added in API level 24
public Object clone ()

Overrides clone.

Returns
Object a clone of this instance.

equals

Added in API level 24
public boolean equals (Object obj)

Overrides equals.

Parameters
obj Object: the reference object with which to compare.

Returns
boolean true if this object is the same as the obj argument; false otherwise.

format

Added in API level 24
public final StringBuffer format (Object obj, 
                StringBuffer toAppendTo, 
                FieldPosition fieldPosition)

Formats a time object into a time string. Examples of time objects are a time value expressed in milliseconds and a Date object.

Parameters
obj Object: must be a Number or a Date or a Calendar.

toAppendTo StringBuffer: the string buffer for the returning time string.

fieldPosition FieldPosition: keeps track of the position of the field within the returned string. On input: an alignment field, if desired. On output: the offsets of the alignment field. For example, given a time text "1996.07.10 AD at 15:08:56 PDT", if the given fieldPosition is DateFormat.YEAR_FIELD, the begin index and end index of fieldPosition will be set to 0 and 4, respectively. Notice that if the same time field appears more than once in a pattern, the fieldPosition will be set for the first occurrence of that time field. For instance, formatting a Date to the time string "1 PM PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)" using the pattern "h a z (zzzz)" and the alignment field DateFormat.TIMEZONE_FIELD, the begin index and end index of fieldPosition will be set to 5 and 8, respectively, for the first occurrence of the timezone pattern character 'z'.

Returns
StringBuffer the formatted time string.

See also:

format

Added in API level 24
public StringBuffer format (Date date, 
                StringBuffer toAppendTo, 
                FieldPosition fieldPosition)

Formats a Date into a date/time string.

Parameters
date Date: a Date to be formatted into a date/time string.

toAppendTo StringBuffer: the string buffer for the returning date/time string.

fieldPosition FieldPosition: keeps track of the position of the field within the returned string. On input: an alignment field, if desired. On output: the offsets of the alignment field. For example, given a time text "1996.07.10 AD at 15:08:56 PDT", if the given fieldPosition is DateFormat.YEAR_FIELD, the begin index and end index of fieldPosition will be set to 0 and 4, respectively. Notice that if the same time field appears more than once in a pattern, the fieldPosition will be set for the first occurrence of that time field. For instance, formatting a Date to the time string "1 PM PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)" using the pattern "h a z (zzzz)" and the alignment field DateFormat.TIMEZONE_FIELD, the begin index and end index of fieldPosition will be set to 5 and 8, respectively, for the first occurrence of the timezone pattern character 'z'.

Returns
StringBuffer the formatted date/time string.

format

Added in API level 24
public final String format (Date date)

Formats a Date into a date/time string.

Parameters
date Date: the time value to be formatted into a time string.

Returns
String the formatted time string.

format

Added in API level 24
public abstract StringBuffer format (Calendar cal, 
                StringBuffer toAppendTo, 
                FieldPosition fieldPosition)

Formats a date into a date/time string.

Parameters
cal Calendar: a Calendar set to the date and time to be formatted into a date/time string. When the calendar type is different from the internal calendar held by this DateFormat instance, the date and the time zone will be inherited from the input calendar, but other calendar field values will be calculated by the internal calendar.

toAppendTo StringBuffer: the string buffer for the returning date/time string.

fieldPosition FieldPosition: keeps track of the position of the field within the returned string. On input: an alignment field, if desired. On output: the offsets of the alignment field. For example, given a time text "1996.07.10 AD at 15:08:56 PDT", if the given fieldPosition is DateFormat.YEAR_FIELD, the begin index and end index of fieldPosition will be set to 0 and 4, respectively. Notice that if the same time field appears more than once in a pattern, the fieldPosition will be set for the first occurrence of that time field. For instance, formatting a Date to the time string "1 PM PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)" using the pattern "h a z (zzzz)" and the alignment field DateFormat.TIMEZONE_FIELD, the begin index and end index of fieldPosition will be set to 5 and 8, respectively, for the first occurrence of the timezone pattern character 'z'.

Returns
StringBuffer the formatted date/time string.

getAvailableLocales

Added in API level 24
public static Locale[] getAvailableLocales ()

Returns the set of locales for which DateFormats are installed.

Returns
Locale[] the set of locales for which DateFormats are installed.

getBooleanAttribute

Added in API level 24
public boolean getBooleanAttribute (DateFormat.BooleanAttribute key)

Returns the current value for the specified BooleanAttribute for this instance if attribute is missing false is returned.

Parameters
key DateFormat.BooleanAttribute

Returns
boolean

getCalendar

Added in API level 24
public Calendar getCalendar ()

Returns the calendar associated with this date/time formatter.

Returns
Calendar the calendar associated with this date/time formatter.

getContext

Added in API level 24
public DisplayContext getContext (DisplayContext.Type type)

[icu] Get the formatter's DisplayContext value for the specified DisplayContext.Type, such as CAPITALIZATION.

Parameters
type DisplayContext.Type: the DisplayContext.Type whose value to return

Returns
DisplayContext the current DisplayContext setting for the specified type

getDateInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateInstance (int style, 
                Locale aLocale)

Returns the date formatter with the given formatting style for the given locale.

Parameters
style int: the given formatting style. For example, SHORT for "M/d/yy" in the US locale. As currently implemented, relative date formatting only affects a limited range of calendar days before or after the current date, based on the CLDR <field type="day">/<relative> data: For example, in English, "Yesterday", "Today", and "Tomorrow". Outside of this range, relative dates are formatted using the corresponding non-relative style.

aLocale Locale: the given locale.

Returns
DateFormat a date formatter.

getDateInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateInstance (Calendar cal, 
                int dateStyle)

Creates a DateFormat object for the default locale that can be used to format dates in the calendar system specified by cal.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a date format is desired.

dateStyle int: The type of date format desired. This can be DateFormat#SHORT, DateFormat#MEDIUM, etc.

Returns
DateFormat

getDateInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateInstance (Calendar cal, 
                int dateStyle, 
                ULocale locale)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates in the calendar system specified by cal.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a date format is desired.

dateStyle int: The type of date format desired. This can be DateFormat#SHORT, DateFormat#MEDIUM, etc.

locale ULocale: The locale for which the date format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getDateInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateInstance ()

Returns the date formatter with the default formatting style for the default FORMAT locale.

Returns
DateFormat a date formatter.

getDateInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateInstance (int style, 
                ULocale locale)

Returns the date formatter with the given formatting style for the given locale.

Parameters
style int: the given formatting style. For example, SHORT for "M/d/yy" in the US locale. As currently implemented, relative date formatting only affects a limited range of calendar days before or after the current date, based on the CLDR <field type="day">/<relative> data: For example, in English, "Yesterday", "Today", and "Tomorrow". Outside of this range, relative dates are formatted using the corresponding non-relative style.

locale ULocale: the given ulocale.

Returns
DateFormat a date formatter.

getDateInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateInstance (Calendar cal, 
                int dateStyle, 
                Locale locale)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates in the calendar system specified by cal.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a date format is desired.

dateStyle int: The type of date format desired. This can be DateFormat#SHORT, DateFormat#MEDIUM, etc.

locale Locale: The locale for which the date format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getDateInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateInstance (int style)

Returns the date formatter with the given formatting style for the default FORMAT locale.

Parameters
style int: the given formatting style. For example, SHORT for "M/d/yy" in the US locale. As currently implemented, relative date formatting only affects a limited range of calendar days before or after the current date, based on the CLDR <field type="day">/<relative> data: For example, in English, "Yesterday", "Today", and "Tomorrow". Outside of this range, relative dates are formatted using the corresponding non-relative style.

Returns
DateFormat a date formatter.

getDateTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance (int dateStyle, 
                int timeStyle)

Returns the date/time formatter with the given date and time formatting styles for the default FORMAT locale.

Parameters
dateStyle int: the given date formatting style. For example, SHORT for "M/d/yy" in the US locale. As currently implemented, relative date formatting only affects a limited range of calendar days before or after the current date, based on the CLDR <field type="day">/<relative> data: For example, in English, "Yesterday", "Today", and "Tomorrow". Outside of this range, relative dates are formatted using the corresponding non-relative style.

timeStyle int: the given time formatting style. For example, SHORT for "h:mm a" in the US locale. Relative time styles are not currently supported, and behave just like the corresponding non-relative style.

Returns
DateFormat a date/time formatter.

getDateTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance ()

Returns the date/time formatter with the default formatting style for the default FORMAT locale.

Returns
DateFormat a date/time formatter.

getDateTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance (Calendar cal, 
                int dateStyle, 
                int timeStyle, 
                ULocale locale)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a date/time format is desired.

dateStyle int: The type of date format desired. This can be DateFormat#SHORT, DateFormat#MEDIUM, etc.

timeStyle int: The type of time format desired. This can be DateFormat#SHORT, DateFormat#MEDIUM, etc.

locale ULocale: The locale for which the date/time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getDateTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance (Calendar cal, 
                int dateStyle, 
                int timeStyle, 
                Locale locale)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a date/time format is desired.

dateStyle int: The type of date format desired. This can be DateFormat#SHORT, DateFormat#MEDIUM, etc.

timeStyle int: The type of time format desired. This can be DateFormat#SHORT, DateFormat#MEDIUM, etc.

locale Locale: The locale for which the date/time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getDateTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance (int dateStyle, 
                int timeStyle, 
                ULocale locale)

Returns the date/time formatter with the given formatting styles for the given locale.

Parameters
dateStyle int: the given date formatting style. As currently implemented, relative date formatting only affects a limited range of calendar days before or after the current date, based on the CLDR <field type="day">/<relative> data: For example, in English, "Yesterday", "Today", and "Tomorrow". Outside of this range, relative dates are formatted using the corresponding non-relative style.

timeStyle int: the given time formatting style. Relative time styles are not currently supported, and behave just like the corresponding non-relative style.

locale ULocale: the given ulocale.

Returns
DateFormat a date/time formatter.

getDateTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance (int dateStyle, 
                int timeStyle, 
                Locale aLocale)

Returns the date/time formatter with the given formatting styles for the given locale.

Parameters
dateStyle int: the given date formatting style. As currently implemented, relative date formatting only affects a limited range of calendar days before or after the current date, based on the CLDR <field type="day">/<relative> data: For example, in English, "Yesterday", "Today", and "Tomorrow". Outside of this range, relative dates are formatted using the corresponding non-relative style.

timeStyle int: the given time formatting style. Relative time styles are not currently supported, and behave just like the corresponding non-relative style.

aLocale Locale: the given locale.

Returns
DateFormat a date/time formatter.

getDateTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getDateTimeInstance (Calendar cal, 
                int dateStyle, 
                int timeStyle)

Creates a DateFormat object for the default locale that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a date/time format is desired.

dateStyle int: The type of date format desired. This can be DateFormat#SHORT, DateFormat#MEDIUM, etc.

timeStyle int: The type of time format desired. This can be DateFormat#SHORT, DateFormat#MEDIUM, etc.

Returns
DateFormat

getInstance

Added in API level 33
public static final DateFormat getInstance (Calendar cal, 
                ULocale locale)

Returns a date/time formatter that uses the SHORT style for both the date and the time.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a date/time format is desired.

locale ULocale: The locale for which the date/time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getInstance (Calendar cal)

Returns a default date/time formatter that uses the SHORT style for both the date and the time.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a date/time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getInstance (Calendar cal, 
                Locale locale)

Returns a date/time formatter that uses the SHORT style for both the date and the time.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a date/time format is desired.

locale Locale: The locale for which the date/time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getInstance ()

Returns a default date/time formatter that uses the SHORT style for both the date and the time.

Returns
DateFormat

getInstanceForSkeleton

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getInstanceForSkeleton (Calendar cal, 
                String skeleton, 
                Locale locale)

[icu] Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a date/time format is desired.

skeleton String: The skeleton that selects the fields to be formatted. (Uses the DateTimePatternGenerator.) This can be DateFormat#ABBR_MONTH, DateFormat#MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY, etc.

locale Locale: The locale for which the date/time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getInstanceForSkeleton

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getInstanceForSkeleton (Calendar cal, 
                String skeleton, 
                ULocale locale)

[icu] Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a date/time format is desired.

skeleton String: The skeleton that selects the fields to be formatted. (Uses the DateTimePatternGenerator.) This can be DateFormat#ABBR_MONTH, DateFormat#MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY, etc.

locale ULocale: The locale for which the date/time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getInstanceForSkeleton

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getInstanceForSkeleton (String skeleton, 
                ULocale locale)

[icu] Returns a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the given locale.

Parameters
skeleton String: The skeleton that selects the fields to be formatted. (Uses the DateTimePatternGenerator.) This can be DateFormat#ABBR_MONTH, DateFormat#MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY, etc.

locale ULocale: The locale for which the date/time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getInstanceForSkeleton

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getInstanceForSkeleton (String skeleton, 
                Locale locale)

[icu] Returns a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the given locale.

Parameters
skeleton String: The skeleton that selects the fields to be formatted. (Uses the DateTimePatternGenerator.) This can be DateFormat#ABBR_MONTH, DateFormat#MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY, etc.

locale Locale: The locale for which the date/time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getInstanceForSkeleton

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getInstanceForSkeleton (String skeleton)

[icu] Returns a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the default locale.

Parameters
skeleton String: The skeleton that selects the fields to be formatted. (Uses the DateTimePatternGenerator.) This can be DateFormat#ABBR_MONTH, DateFormat#MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY, etc.

Returns
DateFormat

getNumberFormat

Added in API level 24
public NumberFormat getNumberFormat ()

Returns the number formatter which this date/time formatter uses to format and parse a time.

Returns
NumberFormat the number formatter which this date/time formatter uses.

getPatternInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getPatternInstance (String skeleton, 
                Locale locale)

[icu] Returns a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the given locale. The getInstanceForSkeleton methods are preferred over the getPatternInstance methods.

Parameters
skeleton String: The skeleton that selects the fields to be formatted. (Uses the DateTimePatternGenerator.) This can be DateFormat#ABBR_MONTH, DateFormat#MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY, etc.

locale Locale: The locale for which the date/time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getPatternInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getPatternInstance (String skeleton, 
                ULocale locale)

[icu] Returns a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the given locale. The getInstanceForSkeleton methods are preferred over the getPatternInstance methods.

Parameters
skeleton String: The skeleton that selects the fields to be formatted. (Uses the DateTimePatternGenerator.) This can be DateFormat#ABBR_MONTH, DateFormat#MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY, etc.

locale ULocale: The locale for which the date/time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getPatternInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getPatternInstance (String skeleton)

[icu] Returns a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the default locale. The getInstanceForSkeleton methods are preferred over the getPatternInstance methods.

Parameters
skeleton String: The skeleton that selects the fields to be formatted. (Uses the DateTimePatternGenerator.) This can be DateFormat#ABBR_MONTH, DateFormat#MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY, etc.

Returns
DateFormat

getPatternInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getPatternInstance (Calendar cal, 
                String skeleton, 
                Locale locale)

[icu] Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal. The getInstanceForSkeleton methods are preferred over the getPatternInstance methods.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a date/time format is desired.

skeleton String: The skeleton that selects the fields to be formatted. (Uses the DateTimePatternGenerator.) This can be DateFormat#ABBR_MONTH, DateFormat#MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY, etc.

locale Locale: The locale for which the date/time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getPatternInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getPatternInstance (Calendar cal, 
                String skeleton, 
                ULocale locale)

[icu] Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format dates and times in the calendar system specified by cal. The getInstanceForSkeleton methods are preferred over the getPatternInstance methods.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a date/time format is desired.

skeleton String: The skeleton that selects the fields to be formatted. (Uses the DateTimePatternGenerator.) This can be DateFormat#ABBR_MONTH, DateFormat#MONTH_WEEKDAY_DAY, etc.

locale ULocale: The locale for which the date/time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

getTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getTimeInstance (Calendar cal, 
                int timeStyle)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format times in the calendar system specified by cal.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a time format is desired.

timeStyle int: The type of time format desired. This can be DateFormat#SHORT, DateFormat#MEDIUM, etc.

Returns
DateFormat

See also:

getTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getTimeInstance ()

Gets the time formatter with the default formatting style for the default FORMAT locale.

Returns
DateFormat a time formatter.

getTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getTimeInstance (int style, 
                ULocale locale)

Returns the time formatter with the given formatting style for the given locale.

Parameters
style int: the given formatting style. For example, SHORT for "h:mm a" in the US locale. Relative time styles are not currently supported, and behave just like the corresponding non-relative style.

locale ULocale: the given ulocale.

Returns
DateFormat a time formatter.

getTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getTimeInstance (Calendar cal, 
                int timeStyle, 
                ULocale locale)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format times in the calendar system specified by cal.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a time format is desired.

timeStyle int: The type of time format desired. This can be DateFormat#SHORT, DateFormat#MEDIUM, etc.

locale ULocale: The locale for which the time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

See also:

getTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getTimeInstance (Calendar cal, 
                int timeStyle, 
                Locale locale)

Creates a DateFormat object that can be used to format times in the calendar system specified by cal.

Parameters
cal Calendar: The calendar system for which a time format is desired.

timeStyle int: The type of time format desired. This can be DateFormat#SHORT, DateFormat#MEDIUM, etc.

locale Locale: The locale for which the time format is desired.

Returns
DateFormat

See also:

getTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getTimeInstance (int style)

Returns the time formatter with the given formatting style for the default FORMAT locale.

Parameters
style int: the given formatting style. For example, SHORT for "h:mm a" in the US locale. Relative time styles are not currently supported, and behave just like the corresponding non-relative style.

Returns
DateFormat a time formatter.

getTimeInstance

Added in API level 24
public static final DateFormat getTimeInstance (int style, 
                Locale aLocale)

Returns the time formatter with the given formatting style for the given locale.

Parameters
style int: the given formatting style. For example, SHORT for "h:mm a" in the US locale. Relative time styles are not currently supported, and behave just like the corresponding non-relative style.

aLocale Locale: the given locale.

Returns
DateFormat a time formatter.

getTimeZone

Added in API level 24
public TimeZone getTimeZone ()

Returns the time zone.

Returns
TimeZone the time zone associated with the calendar of DateFormat.

hashCode

Added in API level 24
public int hashCode ()

Overrides hashCode.

Returns
int a hash code value for this object.

isCalendarLenient

Added in API level 24
public boolean isCalendarLenient ()

Returns whether date/time parsing in the encapsulated Calendar object is lenient.

Returns
boolean

isLenient

Added in API level 24
public boolean isLenient ()

Returns whether both date/time parsing in the encapsulated Calendar object and DateFormat whitespace & numeric processing is lenient.

Returns
boolean

parse

Added in API level 24
public Date parse (String text)

Parses a date/time string. For example, a time text "07/10/96 4:5 PM, PDT" will be parsed into a Date that is equivalent to Date(837039928046). Parsing begins at the beginning of the string and proceeds as far as possible. Assuming no parse errors were encountered, this function doesn't return any information about how much of the string was consumed by the parsing. If you need that information, use a version of parse() that takes a ParsePosition.

By default, parsing is lenient: If the input is not in the form used by this object's format method but can still be parsed as a date, then the parse succeeds. Clients may insist on strict adherence to the format by calling setLenient(false).

Note that the normal date formats associated with some calendars - such as the Chinese lunar calendar - do not specify enough fields to enable dates to be parsed unambiguously. In the case of the Chinese lunar calendar, while the year within the current 60-year cycle is specified, the number of such cycles since the start date of the calendar (in the ERA field of the Calendar object) is not normally part of the format, and parsing may assume the wrong era. For cases such as this it is recommended that clients parse using the parse method that takes a Calendar with the Calendar passed in set to the current date, or to a date within the era/cycle that should be assumed if absent in the format.

Parameters
text String: The date/time string to be parsed

Returns
Date A Date, or null if the input could not be parsed

Throws
ParseException If the given string cannot be parsed as a date.

parse

Added in API level 24
public Date parse (String text, 
                ParsePosition pos)

Parses a date/time string according to the given parse position. For example, a time text "07/10/96 4:5 PM, PDT" will be parsed into a Date that is equivalent to Date(837039928046).

By default, parsing is lenient: If the input is not in the form used by this object's format method but can still be parsed as a date, then the parse succeeds. Clients may insist on strict adherence to the format by calling setLenient(false).

Note that the normal date formats associated with some calendars - such as the Chinese lunar calendar - do not specify enough fields to enable dates to be parsed unambiguously. In the case of the Chinese lunar calendar, while the year within the current 60-year cycle is specified, the number of such cycles since the start date of the calendar (in the ERA field of the Calendar object) is not normally part of the format, and parsing may assume the wrong era. For cases such as this it is recommended that clients parse using the parse method that takes a Calendar with the Calendar passed in set to the current date, or to a date within the era/cycle that should be assumed if absent in the format.

Parameters
text String: The date/time string to be parsed

pos ParsePosition: On input, the position at which to start parsing; on output, the position at which parsing terminated, or the start position if the parse failed.

Returns
Date A Date, or null if the input could not be parsed

parse

Added in API level 24
public abstract void parse (String text, 
                Calendar cal, 
                ParsePosition pos)

Parses a date/time string according to the given parse position. For example, a time text "07/10/96 4:5 PM, PDT" will be parsed into a Calendar that is equivalent to Date(837039928046). Before calling this method the caller should initialize the calendar in one of two ways (unless existing field information is to be kept): (1) clear the calendar, or (2) set the calendar to the current date (or to any date whose fields should be used to supply values that are missing in the parsed date). For example, Chinese calendar dates do not normally provide an era/cycle; in this case the calendar that is passed in should be set to a date within the era that should be assumed, normally the current era.

By default, parsing is lenient: If the input is not in the form used by this object's format method but can still be parsed as a date, then the parse succeeds. Clients may insist on strict adherence to the format by calling setLenient(false).

Parameters
text String: The date/time string to be parsed

cal Calendar: The calendar set on input to the date and time to be used for missing values in the date/time string being parsed, and set on output to the parsed date/time. In general, this should be initialized before calling this method - either cleared or set to the current date, depending on desired behavior. If this parse fails, the calendar may still have been modified. When the calendar type is different from the internal calendar held by this DateFormat instance, calendar field values will be parsed based on the internal calendar initialized with the time and the time zone taken from this calendar, then the parse result (time in milliseconds and time zone) will be set back to this calendar.

pos ParsePosition: On input, the position at which to start parsing; on output, the position at which parsing terminated, or the start position if the parse failed.

parseObject

Added in API level 24
public Object parseObject (String source, 
                ParsePosition pos)

Parses a date/time string into an Object. This convenience method simply calls parse(String, ParsePosition).

Parameters
source String: A String, part of which should be parsed.

pos ParsePosition: A ParsePosition object with index and error index information as described above.

Returns
Object An Object parsed from the string. In case of error, returns null.

setBooleanAttribute

Added in API level 24
public DateFormat setBooleanAttribute (DateFormat.BooleanAttribute key, 
                boolean value)

Sets a boolean attribute for this instance. Aspects of DateFormat leniency are controlled by boolean attributes.

Parameters
key DateFormat.BooleanAttribute

value boolean

Returns
DateFormat

setCalendar

Added in API level 24
public void setCalendar (Calendar newCalendar)

Sets the calendar to be used by this date format. Initially, the default calendar for the specified or default locale is used.

Parameters
newCalendar Calendar: the new Calendar to be used by the date format

setCalendarLenient

Added in API level 24
public void setCalendarLenient (boolean lenient)

Specifies whether date/time parsing in the encapsulated Calendar object should be lenient. With lenient parsing, the parser may use heuristics to interpret inputs that do not precisely match this object's format. Without lenient parsing, inputs must match this object's format more closely.

Parameters
lenient boolean: when true, Calendar parsing is lenient

setContext

Added in API level 24
public void setContext (DisplayContext context)

[icu] Set a particular DisplayContext value in the formatter, such as CAPITALIZATION_FOR_STANDALONE.

Parameters
context DisplayContext: The DisplayContext value to set.

setLenient

Added in API level 24
public void setLenient (boolean lenient)

Specifies whether date/time parsing is to be lenient. With lenient parsing, the parser may use heuristics to interpret inputs that do not precisely match this object's format. Without lenient parsing, inputs must match this object's format more closely.

Note: ICU 53 introduced finer grained control of leniency (and added new control points) making the preferred method a combination of setCalendarLenient() & setBooleanAttribute() calls. This method supports prior functionality but may not support all future leniency control & behavior of DateFormat. For control of pre 53 leniency, Calendar and DateFormat whitespace & numeric tolerance, this method is safe to use. However, mixing leniency control via this method and modification of the newer attributes via setBooleanAttribute() may produce undesirable results.

Parameters
lenient boolean: True specifies date/time interpretation to be lenient.

setNumberFormat

Added in API level 24
public void setNumberFormat (NumberFormat newNumberFormat)

Sets the number formatter.

Parameters
newNumberFormat NumberFormat: the given new NumberFormat.

setTimeZone

Added in API level 24
public void setTimeZone (TimeZone zone)

Sets the time zone for the calendar of this DateFormat object.

Parameters
zone TimeZone: the given new time zone.