Added in API level 24

SimpleDateFormat

Kotlin |Java

public class SimpleDateFormat
extends DateFormat

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

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

SimpleDateFormat is a concrete class for formatting and parsing dates in a locale-sensitive manner. It allows for formatting (date -> text), parsing (text -> date), and normalization.

Clients are encouraged to create a date-time formatter using DateFormat.getDateInstance(), DateFormat.getDateInstance(), or DateFormat.getDateTimeInstance() rather than explicitly constructing an instance of SimpleDateFormat. This way, the client is guaranteed to get an appropriate formatting pattern for whatever locale the program is running in. If the client needs more control, they should consider using DateFormat.getInstanceForSkeleton(). However, if the client needs something more unusual than the default patterns in the locales, he can construct a SimpleDateFormat directly and give it an appropriate pattern (or use one of the factory methods on DateFormat and modify the pattern after the fact with toPattern() and applyPattern(). For more information on using these methods, see DateFormat.

Date and Time Patterns:

Date and time formats are specified by date and time pattern strings. The full syntax for date and time patterns can be found at https://unicode.org/reports/tr35/tr35-dates.html#Date_Format_Patterns.

Within date and time pattern strings, all unquoted ASCII letters [A-Za-z] are reserved as pattern letters representing calendar fields. Some of the most commonly used pattern letters are:

Sym. No. Example Description

G 1..3 AD Era - Replaced with the Era string for the current date. One to three letters for the abbreviated form, four letters for the long (wide) form, five for the narrow form.

y 1..n 1996 Year. Normally the length specifies the padding, but for two letters it also specifies the maximum length. Example:

Year y yy yyy yyyy yyyyy

AD 1 1 01 001 0001 00001

AD 12 12 12 012 0012 00012

AD 123 123 23 123 0123 00123

AD 1234 1234 34 1234 1234 01234

AD 12345 12345 45 12345 12345 12345

Q 1..2 02 Quarter - Use one or two for the numerical quarter, three for the abbreviation, or four for the full (wide) name (five for the narrow name is not yet supported).

3 Q2

4 2nd quarter

M 1..2 09 Month - Use one or two for the numerical month, three for the abbreviation, four for the full (wide) name, or five for the narrow name. With two ("MM"), the month number is zero-padded if necessary (e.g. "08").

3 Sep

4 September

5 S

d 1..2 1 Date - Day of the month. Use "d" to show the minimum number of digits, or "dd" to always show two digits (zero-padding if necessary, e.g. "08").

E 1..3 Tue Day of week - Use one through three letters for the short day, four for the full (wide) name, five for the narrow name, or six for the short name.

4 Tuesday

5 T

6 Tu

a 1 AM AM or PM

h 1..2 11 Hour [1-12]. When used in skeleton data or in a skeleton passed in an API for flexible data pattern generation, it should match the 12-hour-cycle format preferred by the locale (h or K); it should not match a 24-hour-cycle format (H or k). Use hh for zero padding.

H 1..2 13 Hour [0-23]. When used in skeleton data or in a skeleton passed in an API for flexible data pattern generation, it should match the 24-hour-cycle format preferred by the locale (H or k); it should not match a 12-hour-cycle format (h or K). Use HH for zero padding.

m 1..2 59 Minute. Use "m" to show the minimum number of digits, or "mm" to always show two digits (zero-padding if necessary, e.g. "08")..

s 1..2 12 Second. Use "s" to show the minimum number of digits, or "ss" to always show two digits (zero-padding if necessary, e.g. "08").

z 1..3 PDT Time zone. The short specific non-location format. Where that is unavailable, falls back to the short localized GMT format ("O").

4 Pacific Daylight Time The long specific non-location format. Where that is unavailable, falls back to the long localized GMT format ("OOOO").

v 1 PT Time zone. The short generic non-location format. Where that is unavailable, falls back to the generic location format ("VVVV"), then the short localized GMT format as the final fallback.

4 Pacific Time The long generic non-location format. Where that is unavailable, falls back to generic location format ("VVVV").

Any characters in the pattern that are not in the ranges of ['a'..'z'] and ['A'..'Z'] will be treated as quoted text. For instance, characters like ':', '.', ' ', '#' and '@' will appear in the resulting time text even they are not embraced within single quotes.

A pattern containing any invalid pattern letter will result in a thrown exception during formatting or parsing.

Examples Using the US Locale:

 Format Pattern                         Result
 --------------                         -------
 "yyyy.MM.dd G 'at' HH:mm:ss vvvv" ->>  1996.07.10 AD at 15:08:56 Pacific Time
 "EEE, MMM d, ''yy"                ->>  Wed, July 10, '96
 "h:mm a"                          ->>  12:08 PM
 "hh 'o''clock' a, zzzz"           ->>  12 o'clock PM, Pacific Daylight Time
 "K:mm a, vvv"                     ->>  0:00 PM, PT
 "yyyyy.MMMMM.dd GGG hh:mm aaa"    ->>  01996.July.10 AD 12:08 PM

Code Sample:

 SimpleTimeZone pdt = new SimpleTimeZone(-8 * 60 * 60 * 1000, "PST");
 pdt.setStartRule(Calendar.APRIL, 1, Calendar.SUNDAY, 2*60*60*1000);
 pdt.setEndRule(Calendar.OCTOBER, -1, Calendar.SUNDAY, 2*60*60*1000);
 

 // Format the current time.
 SimpleDateFormat formatter
     = new SimpleDateFormat ("yyyy.MM.dd G 'at' hh:mm:ss a zzz");
 Date currentTime_1 = new Date();
 String dateString = formatter.format(currentTime_1);
 

 // Parse the previous string back into a Date.
 ParsePosition pos = new ParsePosition(0);
 Date currentTime_2 = formatter.parse(dateString, pos);

In the example, the time value currentTime_2 obtained from parsing will be equal to currentTime_1. However, they may not be equal if the am/pm marker 'a' is left out from the format pattern while the "hour in am/pm" pattern symbol is used. This information loss can happen when formatting the time in PM.

When parsing a date string using the abbreviated year pattern ("yy"), SimpleDateFormat must interpret the abbreviated year relative to some century. It does this by adjusting dates to be within 80 years before and 20 years after the time the SimpleDateFormat instance is created. For example, using a pattern of "MM/dd/yy" and a SimpleDateFormat instance created on Jan 1, 1997, the string "01/11/12" would be interpreted as Jan 11, 2012 while the string "05/04/64" would be interpreted as May 4, 1964. During parsing, only strings consisting of exactly two digits, as defined by UCharacter.isDigit(int), will be parsed into the default century. Any other numeric string, such as a one digit string, a three or more digit string, or a two digit string that isn't all digits (for example, "-1"), is interpreted literally. So "01/02/3" or "01/02/003" are parsed, using the same pattern, as Jan 2, 3 AD. Likewise, "01/02/-3" is parsed as Jan 2, 4 BC.

If the year pattern does not have exactly two 'y' characters, the year is interpreted literally, regardless of the number of digits. So using the pattern "MM/dd/yyyy", "01/11/12" parses to Jan 11, 12 A.D.

When numeric fields abut one another directly, with no intervening delimiter characters, they constitute a run of abutting numeric fields. Such runs are parsed specially. For example, the format "HHmmss" parses the input text "123456" to 12:34:56, parses the input text "12345" to 1:23:45, and fails to parse "1234". In other words, the leftmost field of the run is flexible, while the others keep a fixed width. If the parse fails anywhere in the run, then the leftmost field is shortened by one character, and the entire run is parsed again. This is repeated until either the parse succeeds or the leftmost field is one character in length. If the parse still fails at that point, the parse of the run fails.

For time zones that have no names, use strings GMT+hours:minutes or GMT-hours:minutes.

The calendar defines what is the first day of the week, the first week of the year, whether hours are zero based or not (0 vs 12 or 24), and the time zone. There is one common decimal format to handle all the numbers; the digit count is handled programmatically according to the pattern.

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.

See also:

Summary

Inherited constants

From class android.icu.text.DateFormat

`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.

Inherited fields

From class android.icu.text.DateFormat

`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.

Public constructors
`SimpleDateFormat()` Constructs a SimpleDateFormat using the default pattern for the default `FORMAT` locale.
`SimpleDateFormat(String pattern)` Constructs a SimpleDateFormat using the given pattern in the default `FORMAT` locale.
`SimpleDateFormat(String pattern, Locale loc)` Constructs a SimpleDateFormat using the given pattern and locale.
`SimpleDateFormat(String pattern, ULocale loc)` Constructs a SimpleDateFormat using the given pattern and locale.
`SimpleDateFormat(String pattern, String override, ULocale loc)` Constructs a SimpleDateFormat using the given pattern , override and locale.
`SimpleDateFormat(String pattern, DateFormatSymbols formatData)` Constructs a SimpleDateFormat using the given pattern and locale-specific symbol data.

Public methods
`void`	`applyLocalizedPattern(String pat)` Apply the given localized pattern string to this date format.
`void`	`applyPattern(String pat)` Apply the given unlocalized pattern string to this date format.
`Object`	`clone()` Overrides Cloneable
`boolean`	`equals(Object obj)` Override equals.
`StringBuffer`	`format(Calendar cal, StringBuffer toAppendTo, FieldPosition pos)` Formats a date or time, which is the standard millis since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 GMT.
`AttributedCharacterIterator`	`formatToCharacterIterator(Object obj)` Format the object to an attributed string, and return the corresponding iterator Overrides superclass method.
`Date`	`get2DigitYearStart()` Returns the beginning date of the 100-year period 2-digit years are interpreted as being within.
`DateFormatSymbols`	`getDateFormatSymbols()` Gets the date/time formatting data.
`NumberFormat`	`getNumberFormat(char field)` give the NumberFormat used for the field like 'y'(year) and 'M'(year)
`TimeZoneFormat`	`getTimeZoneFormat()` [icu] Gets the time zone formatter which this date/time formatter uses to format and parse a time zone.
`int`	`hashCode()` Override hashCode.
`void`	`parse(String text, Calendar cal, ParsePosition parsePos)` Overrides DateFormat
`void`	`set2DigitYearStart(Date startDate)` Sets the 100-year period 2-digit years will be interpreted as being in to begin on the date the user specifies.
`void`	`setContext(DisplayContext context)` [icu] Set a particular DisplayContext value in the formatter, such as CAPITALIZATION_FOR_STANDALONE.
`void`	`setDateFormatSymbols(DateFormatSymbols newFormatSymbols)` Allows you to set the date/time formatting data.
`void`	`setNumberFormat(String fields, NumberFormat overrideNF)` allow the user to set the NumberFormat for several fields It can be a single field like: "y"(year) or "M"(month) It can be several field combined together: "yMd"(year, month and date) Note: 1 symbol field is enough for multiple symbol fields (so "y" will override "yy", "yyy") If the field is not numeric, then override has no effect (like "MMM" will use abbreviation, not numerical field)
`void`	`setNumberFormat(NumberFormat newNumberFormat)` Overrides superclass method and This method also clears per field NumberFormat instances previously set by `setNumberFormat(java.lang.String, android.icu.text.NumberFormat)`
`void`	`setTimeZoneFormat(TimeZoneFormat tzfmt)` [icu] Allows you to set the time zone formatter.
`String`	`toLocalizedPattern()` Return a localized pattern string describing this date format.
`String`	`toPattern()` Return a pattern string describing this date format.

Protected methods
`DateFormatSymbols`	`getSymbols()` Method for subclasses to access the DateFormatSymbols.
`int`	`matchQuarterString(String text, int start, int field, String[] data, Calendar cal)` Attempt to match the text at a given position against an array of quarter strings.
`int`	`matchString(String text, int start, int field, String[] data, Calendar cal)` Attempt to match the text at a given position against an array of strings.
`DateFormat.Field`	`patternCharToDateFormatField(char ch)` Returns a DateFormat.Field constant associated with the specified format pattern character.
`String`	`subFormat(char ch, int count, int beginOffset, FieldPosition pos, DateFormatSymbols fmtData, Calendar cal)` Formats a single field, given its pattern character.
`int`	`subParse(String text, int start, char ch, int count, boolean obeyCount, boolean allowNegative, boolean[] ambiguousYear, Calendar cal)` Protected method that converts one field of the input string into a numeric field value in `cal`.
`String`	`zeroPaddingNumber(long value, int minDigits, int maxDigits)` Formats a number with the specified minimum and maximum number of digits.

Inherited methods

From class


        
          android.icu.text.DateFormat

`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.

From class


        
          java.text.Format

`Object`	`clone()` Creates and returns a copy of this object.
`final String`	`format(Object obj)` Formats an object to produce a string.
`abstract StringBuffer`	`format(Object obj, StringBuffer toAppendTo, FieldPosition pos)` Formats an object and appends the resulting text to a given string buffer.
`AttributedCharacterIterator`	`formatToCharacterIterator(Object obj)` Formats an Object producing an `AttributedCharacterIterator`.
`Object`	`parseObject(String source)` Parses text from the beginning of the given string to produce an object.
`abstract Object`	`parseObject(String source, ParsePosition pos)` Parses text from a string to produce an object.

From class


        
          java.lang.Object

`Object`	`clone()` Creates and returns a copy of this object.
`boolean`	`equals(Object obj)` Indicates whether some other object is "equal to" this one.
`void`	`finalize()` Called by the garbage collector on an object when garbage collection determines that there are no more references to the object.
`final Class<?>`	`getClass()` Returns the runtime class of this `Object`.
`int`	`hashCode()` Returns a hash code value for the object.
`final void`	`notify()` Wakes up a single thread that is waiting on this object's monitor.
`final void`	`notifyAll()` Wakes up all threads that are waiting on this object's monitor.
`String`	`toString()` Returns a string representation of the object.
`final void`	`wait(long timeoutMillis, int nanos)` Causes the current thread to wait until it is awakened, typically by being notified or interrupted, or until a certain amount of real time has elapsed.
`final void`	`wait(long timeoutMillis)` Causes the current thread to wait until it is awakened, typically by being notified or interrupted, or until a certain amount of real time has elapsed.
`final void`	`wait()` Causes the current thread to wait until it is awakened, typically by being notified or interrupted.

Public constructors

SimpleDateFormat

Added in API level 24

public SimpleDateFormat ()

Constructs a SimpleDateFormat using the default pattern for the default FORMAT locale. Note: Not all locales support SimpleDateFormat; for full generality, use the factory methods in the DateFormat class.

See also:

SimpleDateFormat

Added in API level 24

public SimpleDateFormat (String pattern)

Constructs a SimpleDateFormat using the given pattern in the default FORMAT locale. Note: Not all locales support SimpleDateFormat; for full generality, use the factory methods in the DateFormat class.

Parameters
`pattern`	`String`

See also:

ULocale.Category.FORMAT

SimpleDateFormat

Added in API level 24

public SimpleDateFormat (String pattern, 
                Locale loc)

Constructs a SimpleDateFormat using the given pattern and locale. Note: Not all locales support SimpleDateFormat; for full generality, use the factory methods in the DateFormat class.

Parameters
`pattern`	`String`
`loc`	`Locale`

SimpleDateFormat

Added in API level 24

public SimpleDateFormat (String pattern, 
                ULocale loc)

Constructs a SimpleDateFormat using the given pattern and locale. Note: Not all locales support SimpleDateFormat; for full generality, use the factory methods in the DateFormat class.

Parameters
`pattern`	`String`
`loc`	`ULocale`

SimpleDateFormat

Added in API level 24

public SimpleDateFormat (String pattern, 
                String override, 
                ULocale loc)

Constructs a SimpleDateFormat using the given pattern , override and locale.

Parameters
`pattern`	`String`: The pattern to be used
`override`	`String`: The override string. A numbering system override string can take one of the following forms: 1). If just a numbering system name is specified, it applies to all numeric fields in the date format pattern. 2). To specify an alternate numbering system on a field by field basis, use the field letters from the pattern followed by an = sign, followed by the numbering system name. For example, to specify that just the year be formatted using Hebrew digits, use the override "y=hebr". Multiple overrides can be specified in a single string by separating them with a semi-colon. For example, the override string "m=thai;y=deva" would format using Thai digits for the month and Devanagari digits for the year.
`loc`	`ULocale`: The locale to be used

SimpleDateFormat

Added in API level 24

public SimpleDateFormat (String pattern, 
                DateFormatSymbols formatData)

Constructs a SimpleDateFormat using the given pattern and locale-specific symbol data. Warning: uses default FORMAT locale for digits!

Parameters
`pattern`	`String`
`formatData`	`DateFormatSymbols`

Public methods

applyLocalizedPattern

Added in API level 24

public void applyLocalizedPattern (String pat)

Apply the given localized pattern string to this date format.

Parameters
`pat`	`String`

applyPattern

Added in API level 24

public void applyPattern (String pat)

Apply the given unlocalized pattern string to this date format.

Parameters
`pat`	`String`

clone

Added in API level 24

public Object clone ()

Overrides Cloneable

Returns
`Object`	a clone of this instance.

equals

Added in API level 24

public boolean equals (Object obj)

Override 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 StringBuffer format (Calendar cal, 
                StringBuffer toAppendTo, 
                FieldPosition pos)

Formats a date or time, which is the standard millis since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 GMT.

Example: using the US locale: "yyyy.MM.dd G 'at' HH:mm:ss zzz" ->> 1996.07.10 AD at 15:08:56 PDT

Parameters
`cal`	`Calendar`: the calendar whose date-time value is to be formatted into a date-time string
`toAppendTo`	`StringBuffer`: where the new date-time text is to be appended
`pos`	`FieldPosition`: the formatting position. On input: an alignment field, if desired. On output: the offsets of the alignment field.

Returns
`StringBuffer`	the formatted date-time string.

See also:

DateFormat

formatToCharacterIterator

Added in API level 24

public AttributedCharacterIterator formatToCharacterIterator (Object obj)

Format the object to an attributed string, and return the corresponding iterator Overrides superclass method.

Parameters
`obj`	`Object`: The object to format

Returns
`AttributedCharacterIterator`	`AttributedCharacterIterator` describing the formatted value.

get2DigitYearStart

Added in API level 24

public Date get2DigitYearStart ()

Returns the beginning date of the 100-year period 2-digit years are interpreted as being within.

Returns
`Date`	the start of the 100-year period into which two digit years are parsed

getDateFormatSymbols

Added in API level 24

public DateFormatSymbols getDateFormatSymbols ()

Gets the date/time formatting data.

Returns
`DateFormatSymbols`	a copy of the date-time formatting data associated with this date-time formatter.

getNumberFormat

Added in API level 24

public NumberFormat getNumberFormat (char field)

give the NumberFormat used for the field like 'y'(year) and 'M'(year)

Parameters
`field`	`char`: the field the user wants

Returns
`NumberFormat`	override NumberFormat used for the field

getTimeZoneFormat

Added in API level 24

public TimeZoneFormat getTimeZoneFormat ()

[icu] Gets the time zone formatter which this date/time formatter uses to format and parse a time zone.

Returns
`TimeZoneFormat`	the time zone formatter which this date/time formatter uses.

hashCode

Added in API level 24

public int hashCode ()

Override hashCode. Generates the hash code for the SimpleDateFormat object

Returns
`int`	a hash code value for this object.

parse

Added in API level 24

public void parse (String text, 
                Calendar cal, 
                ParsePosition parsePos)

Overrides DateFormat

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.
`parsePos`	`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.

See also:

DateFormat

set2DigitYearStart

Added in API level 24

public void set2DigitYearStart (Date startDate)

Sets the 100-year period 2-digit years will be interpreted as being in to begin on the date the user specifies.

Parameters
`startDate`	`Date`: During parsing, two digit years will be placed in the range `startDate` to `startDate + 100 years`.

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. Note: For getContext, see DateFormat.

Parameters
`context`	`DisplayContext`: The DisplayContext value to set.

setDateFormatSymbols

Added in API level 24

public void setDateFormatSymbols (DateFormatSymbols newFormatSymbols)

Allows you to set the date/time formatting data.

Parameters
`newFormatSymbols`	`DateFormatSymbols`: the new symbols

setNumberFormat

Added in API level 24

public void setNumberFormat (String fields, 
                NumberFormat overrideNF)

allow the user to set the NumberFormat for several fields It can be a single field like: "y"(year) or "M"(month) It can be several field combined together: "yMd"(year, month and date) Note: 1 symbol field is enough for multiple symbol fields (so "y" will override "yy", "yyy") If the field is not numeric, then override has no effect (like "MMM" will use abbreviation, not numerical field)

Parameters
`fields`	`String`: the fields to override
`overrideNF`	`NumberFormat`: the NumbeferFormat used

Throws
`IllegalArgumentException`	when the fields contain invalid field

setNumberFormat

Added in API level 24

public void setNumberFormat (NumberFormat newNumberFormat)

Overrides superclass method and This method also clears per field NumberFormat instances previously set by setNumberFormat(java.lang.String, android.icu.text.NumberFormat)

Parameters
`newNumberFormat`	`NumberFormat`: the given new NumberFormat.

setTimeZoneFormat

Added in API level 24

public void setTimeZoneFormat (TimeZoneFormat tzfmt)

[icu] Allows you to set the time zone formatter.

Parameters
`tzfmt`	`TimeZoneFormat`: the new time zone formatter

toLocalizedPattern

Added in API level 24

public String toLocalizedPattern ()

Return a localized pattern string describing this date format.

Note: This implementation depends on DateFormatSymbols#getLocalPatternChars() to get localized format pattern characters. ICU does not include localized pattern character data, therefore, unless user sets localized pattern characters manually, this method returns the same result as toPattern().

Returns
`String`

toPattern

Added in API level 24

public String toPattern ()

Return a pattern string describing this date format.

Returns
`String`

Protected methods

getSymbols

Added in API level 24

protected DateFormatSymbols getSymbols ()

Method for subclasses to access the DateFormatSymbols.

Returns
`DateFormatSymbols`

matchQuarterString

Added in API level 24

protected int matchQuarterString (String text, 
                int start, 
                int field, 
                String[] data, 
                Calendar cal)

Attempt to match the text at a given position against an array of quarter strings. Since multiple strings in the array may match (for example, if the array contains "a", "ab", and "abc", all will match the input string "abcd") the longest match is returned. As a side effect, the given field of cal is set to the index of the best match, if there is one.

Parameters
`text`	`String`: the time text being parsed.
`start`	`int`: where to start parsing.
`field`	`int`: the date field being parsed.
`data`	`String`: the string array to parsed.
`cal`	`Calendar`

Returns
`int`	the new start position if matching succeeded; a negative number indicating matching failure, otherwise. As a side effect, sets the `cal` field `field` to the index of the best match, if matching succeeded.

matchString

Added in API level 24

protected int matchString (String text, 
                int start, 
                int field, 
                String[] data, 
                Calendar cal)

Attempt to match the text at a given position against an array of strings. Since multiple strings in the array may match (for example, if the array contains "a", "ab", and "abc", all will match the input string "abcd") the longest match is returned. As a side effect, the given field of cal is set to the index of the best match, if there is one.

Parameters
`text`	`String`: the time text being parsed.
`start`	`int`: where to start parsing.
`field`	`int`: the date field being parsed.
`data`	`String`: the string array to parsed.

Returns
`int`	the new start position if matching succeeded; a negative number indicating matching failure, otherwise. As a side effect, sets the `cal` field `field` to the index of the best match, if matching succeeded.

patternCharToDateFormatField

Added in API level 24

protected DateFormat.Field patternCharToDateFormatField (char ch)

Returns a DateFormat.Field constant associated with the specified format pattern character.

Parameters
`ch`	`char`: The pattern character

Returns
`DateFormat.Field`	DateFormat.Field associated with the pattern character

subFormat

Added in API level 24

protected String subFormat (char ch, 
                int count, 
                int beginOffset, 
                FieldPosition pos, 
                DateFormatSymbols fmtData, 
                Calendar cal)

Formats a single field, given its pattern character. Subclasses may override this method in order to modify or add formatting capabilities.

Parameters
`ch`	`char`: the pattern character
`count`	`int`: the number of times ch is repeated in the pattern
`beginOffset`	`int`: the offset of the output string at the start of this field; used to set pos when appropriate
`pos`	`FieldPosition`: receives the position of a field, when appropriate
`fmtData`	`DateFormatSymbols`: the symbols for this formatter
`cal`	`Calendar`

Returns
`String`

Throws
`IllegalArgumentException`

subParse

Added in API level 24

protected int subParse (String text, 
                int start, 
                char ch, 
                int count, 
                boolean obeyCount, 
                boolean allowNegative, 
                boolean[] ambiguousYear, 
                Calendar cal)

Protected method that converts one field of the input string into a numeric field value in cal. Returns -start (for ParsePosition) if failed. Subclasses may override this method to modify or add parsing capabilities.

Parameters
`text`	`String`: the time text to be parsed.
`start`	`int`: where to start parsing.
`ch`	`char`: the pattern character for the date field text to be parsed.
`count`	`int`: the count of a pattern character.
`obeyCount`	`boolean`: if true, then the next field directly abuts this one, and we should use the count to know when to stop parsing.
`allowNegative`	`boolean`
`ambiguousYear`	`boolean`: return parameter; upon return, if ambiguousYear[0] is true, then a two-digit year was parsed and may need to be readjusted.

Returns
`int`	the new start position if matching succeeded; a negative number indicating matching failure, otherwise. As a side effect, set the appropriate field of `cal` with the parsed value.

zeroPaddingNumber

Added in API level 24

protected String zeroPaddingNumber (long value, 
                int minDigits, 
                int maxDigits)

Formats a number with the specified minimum and maximum number of digits.

Parameters
`value`	`long`
`minDigits`	`int`
`maxDigits`	`int`

Returns
`String`