The before() method of Java Date class tests whether the date is before the specified date or not.
Syntax:
public boolean before(Date when)
Parameters: The function accepts a single parameter when which specifies the date that has to be checked.
Return Value: It returns a Boolean value. It will return true if this date is before the specified date otherwise false.
Exception: The function throws a single exception that is NullPointerException if when is null.
Program below demonstrates the above mentioned function:
// Java code to demonstrate// before() function of Date class import java.util.Date;import java.util.Calendar;public class GfG { // main method public static void main(String[] args) { // creating a Calendar object Calendar c = Calendar.getInstance(); // set Month // MONTH starts with 0 i.e. ( 0 - Jan) c.set(Calendar.MONTH, 11); // set Date c.set(Calendar.DATE, 05); // set Year c.set(Calendar.YEAR, 1996); // creating a date object with specified time. Date dateOne = c.getTime(); System.out.println("Date 1: " + dateOne); // creating a date of object // storing the current date Date currentDate = new Date(); System.out.println("Date 2: " + currentDate); System.out.println("Is Date 2 before Date 1: " + currentDate.before(dateOne)); }} |
Output:
Date 1: Thu Dec 05 08:15:01 UTC 1996 Date 2: Wed Jan 02 08:15:01 UTC 2019 Is Date 2 before Date 1: false
// Java code to demonstrate// before() function of Date class import java.util.Date; public class GfG { // main method public static void main(String[] args) { // creating a date of object // storing the current date Date currentDate = new Date(); System.out.println("Date 1: " + currentDate); // specifiedDate is assigned to null. Date specifiedDate = null; System.out.println("Date 1: " + specifiedDate); System.out.println("On checking these 2 dates: "); try { // throws NullPointerException System.out.println(currentDate .before(specifiedDate)); } catch (Exception e) { System.out.println("Exception: " + e); } }} |
Output:
Date 1: Wed Jan 02 08:15:06 UTC 2019 Date 1: null On checking these 2 dates: Exception: java.lang.NullPointerException
