public class

SimpleDateFormat

extends DateFormat

java.lang.Object
↳	java.text.Format
	↳	java.text.DateFormat
		↳	java.text.SimpleDateFormat

Class Overview

SimpleDateFormat is used to format and parse Gregorian calendar dates and times based on a pattern of date and time fields. Each date and time field is specified in the pattern by a specific character. The characters used can be either localized or non-localized. For some fields, which have both numeric and text representations or abbreviated as well as full names, the number of grouped characters specifies how the field is formatted or parsed.

Summary

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Inherited Constants

From class java.text.DateFormat

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Inherited Fields

From class java.text.DateFormat

Public Constructors
	SimpleDateFormat() Constructs a new SimpleDateFormat for formatting and parsing dates and times in the SHORT style for the default Locale.
	SimpleDateFormat(String pattern) Constructs a new SimpleDateFormat using the specified non-localized pattern and the DateFormatSymbols and Calendar for the default Locale.
	SimpleDateFormat(String template, DateFormatSymbols value) Constructs a new SimpleDateFormat using the specified non-localized pattern and DateFormatSymbols and the Calendar for the default Locale.
	SimpleDateFormat(String template, Locale locale) Constructs a new SimpleDateFormat using the specified non-localized pattern and the DateFormatSymbols and Calendar for the specified Locale.

Public Methods
void	applyLocalizedPattern(String template) Changes the pattern of this SimpleDateFormat to the specified pattern which uses localized pattern characters.
void	applyPattern(String template) Changes the pattern of this SimpleDateFormat to the specified pattern which uses non-localized pattern characters.
Object	clone() Returns a new SimpleDateFormat with the same pattern and properties as this SimpleDateFormat.
boolean	equals(Object object) Compares the specified object to this SimpleDateFormat and answer if they are equal.
StringBuffer	format(Date date, StringBuffer buffer, FieldPosition field) Formats the specified Date into the specified StringBuffer using the pattern of this SimpleDateFormat.
AttributedCharacterIterator	formatToCharacterIterator(Object object) Formats the specified object using the rules of this SimpleDateFormat and returns an AttributedCharacterIterator with the formatted Date and attributes.
Date	get2DigitYearStart() Returns the Date which is the start of the one hundred year period for two digits year values.
DateFormatSymbols	getDateFormatSymbols() Returns the DateFormatSymbols used by this SimpleDateFormat.
int	hashCode() Returns an integer hash code for the receiver.
Date	parse(String string, ParsePosition position) Parse a Date from the specified String starting at the index specified by the ParsePosition.
void	set2DigitYearStart(Date date) Sets the Date which is the start of the one hundred year period for two digits year values.
void	setDateFormatSymbols(DateFormatSymbols value) Sets the DateFormatSymbols used by this SimpleDateFormat.
String	toLocalizedPattern() Returns the pattern of this SimpleDateFormat using localized pattern characters.
String	toPattern() Returns the pattern of this SimpleDateFormat using non-localized pattern characters.

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Inherited Methods

From class java.text.DateFormat

Object	clone() Returns a new instance of DateFormat with the same properties.
boolean	equals(Object object) Compares the specified object to this DateFormat and answer if they are equal.
final StringBuffer	format(Object object, StringBuffer buffer, FieldPosition field) Formats the specified object into the specified StringBuffer using the rules of this DateFormat.
final String	format(Date date) Formats the specified Date using the rules of this DateFormat.
abstract StringBuffer	format(Date date, StringBuffer buffer, FieldPosition field) Formats the specified Date into the specified StringBuffer using the rules of this DateFormat.
static Locale[]	getAvailableLocales() Gets the list of installed Locales which support DateFormat.
Calendar	getCalendar() Returns the Calendar used by this DateFormat.
final static DateFormat	getDateInstance(int style, Locale locale) Returns a DateFormat instance for formatting and parsing dates in the specified style for the specified Locale.
final static DateFormat	getDateInstance() Returns a DateFormat instance for formatting and parsing dates in the DEFAULT style for the default Locale.
final static DateFormat	getDateInstance(int style) Returns a DateFormat instance for formatting and parsing dates in the specified style for the default Locale.
final static DateFormat	getDateTimeInstance(int dateStyle, int timeStyle) Returns a `DateFormat` instance for the formatting and parsing of both dates and times in the manner appropriate to the default Locale.
final static DateFormat	getDateTimeInstance(int dateStyle, int timeStyle, Locale locale) Returns a DateFormat instance for formatting and parsing dates and times in the specified styles for the specified Locale.
final static DateFormat	getDateTimeInstance() Returns a DateFormat instance for formatting and parsing dates and times in the DEFAULT style for the default Locale.
final static DateFormat	getInstance() Returns a DateFormat instance for formatting and parsing dates and times in the SHORT style for the default Locale.
NumberFormat	getNumberFormat() Returns the NumberFormat used by this DateFormat.
final static DateFormat	getTimeInstance(int style) Returns a DateFormat instance for formatting and parsing times in the specified style for the default Locale.
final static DateFormat	getTimeInstance() Returns a DateFormat instance for formatting and parsing times in the DEFAULT style for the default Locale.
final static DateFormat	getTimeInstance(int style, Locale locale) Returns a DateFormat instance for formatting and parsing times in the specified style for the specified Locale.
TimeZone	getTimeZone() Returns the TimeZone of the Calendar used by this DateFormat.
int	hashCode() Returns an integer hash code for the receiver.
boolean	isLenient() Returns if the Calendar used by this DateFormat is lenient.
Date	parse(String string) Parse a Date from the specified String using the rules of this DateFormat.
abstract Date	parse(String string, ParsePosition position) Parse a Date from the specified String starting at the index specified by the ParsePosition.
Object	parseObject(String string, ParsePosition position) Parse a Date from the specified String starting at the index specified by the ParsePosition.
void	setCalendar(Calendar cal) Sets the Calendar used by this DateFormat.
void	setLenient(boolean value) Sets if the Calendar used by this DateFormat is lenient.
void	setNumberFormat(NumberFormat format) Sets the NumberFormat used by this DateFormat.
void	setTimeZone(TimeZone timezone) Sets the TimeZone of the Calendar used by this DateFormat.

From class java.text.Format

From class java.lang.Object

Object	clone() Returns a new instance of the same class as the receiver, whose slots have been filled in with the values in the slots of the receiver.
boolean	equals(Object o) Compares the argument to the receiver, and returns true if they represent the same object using a class specific comparison.
void	finalize() Called by the virtual machine when there are no longer any (non-weak) references to the receiver.
final Class<? extends Object>	getClass() Returns the unique instance of java.lang.Class which represents the class of the receiver.
int	hashCode() Returns an integer hash code for the receiver.
final void	notify() Causes one thread which is `wait` ing on the receiver to be made ready to run.
final void	notifyAll() Causes all threads which are `wait` ing on the receiver to be made ready to run.
String	toString() Returns a string containing a concise, human-readable description of the receiver.
final void	wait(long time, int frac) Causes the thread which sent this message to be made not ready to run either pending some change in the receiver (as indicated by `notify` or `notifyAll`) or the expiration of the timeout.
final void	wait(long time) Causes the thread which sent this message to be made not ready to run either pending some change in the receiver (as indicated by `notify` or `notifyAll`) or the expiration of the timeout.
final void	wait() Causes the thread which sent this message to be made not ready to run pending some change in the receiver (as indicated by `notify` or `notifyAll`).

Public Constructors

public SimpleDateFormat ()

Constructs a new SimpleDateFormat for formatting and parsing dates and times in the SHORT style for the default Locale.

public SimpleDateFormat (String pattern)

Constructs a new SimpleDateFormat using the specified non-localized pattern and the DateFormatSymbols and Calendar for the default Locale.

Parameters

pattern	the pattern

Throws

NullPointerException	if a `null` value of `pattern` is supplied.
IllegalArgumentException	if `pattern` is not considered to be useable by this formatter.

public SimpleDateFormat (String template, DateFormatSymbols value)

Constructs a new SimpleDateFormat using the specified non-localized pattern and DateFormatSymbols and the Calendar for the default Locale.

Parameters

template	the pattern
value	the DateFormatSymbols

Throws

NullPointerException	if the pattern is null
IllegalArgumentException	if the pattern is invalid

public SimpleDateFormat (String template, Locale locale)

Constructs a new SimpleDateFormat using the specified non-localized pattern and the DateFormatSymbols and Calendar for the specified Locale.

Parameters

template	the pattern
locale	the Locale

Throws

NullPointerException	if the pattern is null
IllegalArgumentException	if the pattern is invalid

Public Methods

public void applyLocalizedPattern (String template)

Changes the pattern of this SimpleDateFormat to the specified pattern which uses localized pattern characters.

Parameters

template	the localized pattern

public void applyPattern (String template)

Changes the pattern of this SimpleDateFormat to the specified pattern which uses non-localized pattern characters.

Parameters

template	the non-localized pattern

Throws

NullPointerException	if the pattern is null
IllegalArgumentException	if the pattern is invalid

public Object clone ()

Returns a new SimpleDateFormat with the same pattern and properties as this SimpleDateFormat.

Returns

a shallow copy of this SimpleDateFormat

public boolean equals (Object object)

Compares the specified object to this SimpleDateFormat and answer if they are equal. The object must be an instance of SimpleDateFormat and have the same DateFormat properties, pattern, DateFormatSymbols, and creation year.

Parameters

object	the object to compare with this object

Returns

true if the specified object is equal to this SimpleDateFormat, false otherwise

public StringBuffer format (Date date, StringBuffer buffer, FieldPosition field)

Formats the specified Date into the specified StringBuffer using the pattern of this SimpleDateFormat. If the field specified by the FieldPosition is formatted, set the begin and end index of the formatted field in the FieldPosition.

Parameters

date	the Date to format
buffer	the StringBuffer
field	the FieldPosition

Returns

the StringBuffer parameter buffer

Throws

IllegalArgumentException	when there are invalid characters in the pattern

public AttributedCharacterIterator formatToCharacterIterator (Object object)

Formats the specified object using the rules of this SimpleDateFormat and returns an AttributedCharacterIterator with the formatted Date and attributes.

Parameters

object	the object to format

Returns

an AttributedCharacterIterator with the formatted date and attributes

Throws

NullPointerException	when the object is null
IllegalArgumentException	when the object cannot be formatted by this Format

public Date get2DigitYearStart ()

Returns the Date which is the start of the one hundred year period for two digits year values.

Returns

a Date

public DateFormatSymbols getDateFormatSymbols ()

Returns the DateFormatSymbols used by this SimpleDateFormat.

Returns

a DateFormatSymbols

public int hashCode ()

Returns an integer hash code for the receiver. Objects which are equal answer the same value for this method.

Returns

the receiver's hash

public Date parse (String string, ParsePosition position)

Parse a Date from the specified String starting at the index specified by the ParsePosition. If the string is successfully parsed, the index of the ParsePosition is updated to the index following the parsed text.

Parameters

string	the String to parse according to the pattern of this SimpleDateFormat
position	the ParsePosition, updated on return with the index following the parsed text, or on error the index is unchanged and the error index is set to the index where the error occurred

Returns

the Date resulting from the parse, or null if there is an error

Throws

IllegalArgumentException	when there are invalid characters in the pattern

public void set2DigitYearStart (Date date)

Sets the Date which is the start of the one hundred year period for two digits year values.

Parameters

date	the Date

public void setDateFormatSymbols (DateFormatSymbols value)

Sets the DateFormatSymbols used by this SimpleDateFormat.

Parameters

value	the DateFormatSymbols

public String toLocalizedPattern ()

Returns the pattern of this SimpleDateFormat using localized pattern characters.

Returns

the localized pattern

public String toPattern ()

Returns the pattern of this SimpleDateFormat using non-localized pattern characters.

Returns

the non-localized pattern

Jan	FEB	Mar
	26
2008	2009	2010

Interfaces

Classes

Exceptions

SimpleDateFormat

Class Overview

Summary

Public Constructors

public SimpleDateFormat ()

public SimpleDateFormat (String pattern)

Parameters

Throws

public SimpleDateFormat (String template, DateFormatSymbols value)

Parameters

Throws

public SimpleDateFormat (String template, Locale locale)

Parameters

Throws

Public Methods

public void applyLocalizedPattern (String template)

Parameters

public void applyPattern (String template)

Parameters

Throws

public Object clone ()

Returns

See Also

public boolean equals (Object object)

Parameters

Returns

See Also

public StringBuffer format (Date date, StringBuffer buffer, FieldPosition field)

Parameters

Returns

Throws

public AttributedCharacterIterator formatToCharacterIterator (Object object)

Parameters

Returns

Throws

public Date get2DigitYearStart ()

Returns

public DateFormatSymbols getDateFormatSymbols ()

Returns

public int hashCode ()

Returns

See Also

public Date parse (String string, ParsePosition position)

Parameters

Returns

Throws

public void set2DigitYearStart (Date date)

Parameters

public void setDateFormatSymbols (DateFormatSymbols value)

Parameters

public String toLocalizedPattern ()

Returns

public String toPattern ()

Returns