Given a string in date format, the task is to convert this String into an actual date. Here the main concept is the parse() method which helps in the conversion.
Illustration:
Input : string = "2018-10-28T15:23:01Z" Output: 2018-10-28T15:23:01Z Input : string = "28 October, 2018" Output: 2018-10-28
Different Methods to Convert String to Date
- Using instant class
- Using DateTimeFormatter class
- Using SimpleDateFormat class
Tip: Must Read the articles DateFormat class and SimpleDateFormat Class.
Now let us discuss the above method one by one that is as follows:Â
Method 1: Using Instant Class
Instant class in java.time package gives nanosecond accuracy. It is similar to the Date class but gives better accuracy.
Approach:
- Get the String to be converted.
- Create an empty Instant timestamp object.
- Convert the String to Date using the Instant.parse() method.
- If converted successfully, then print the Date.
- If not converted successfully, then DateTimeParseException is thrown.
Example
Java
// Java Program to Convert String to Date// Using Instant ClassÂ
// Importing required classesimport java.time.Instant;import java.time.format.DateTimeParseException;Â
// Main classclass GFG {Â
    // Method    // To convert String to Date    public static Instant getDateFromString(String string)    {        // Creating an instant object        Instant timestamp = null;Â
        // Parsing the string to Date        timestamp = Instant.parse(string);Â
        // Returning the converted timestamp        return timestamp;    }Â
    // Method 2    // Main driver method    public static void main(String[] args)    {        // Getting the string        String string = "2018-10-28T15:23:01Z";Â
        // Try block to check for exceptions        try {Â
            // Getting the Date from String by            // creating object of Instant class            Instant timestamp = getDateFromString(string);Â
            // Printing the converted date            System.out.println(timestamp);        }Â
        // Catch block to handle exceptions        catch (DateTimeParseException e) {Â
            // Throws DateTimeParseException            // if the string cannot be parsed            System.out.println("Exception: " + e);        }    }} |
Output:
2018-10-28T15:23:01Z
Â
Method 2: Using DateTimeFormatter Class
Approach:
- Get the String to be converted and the required format.
- Create an empty LocalDate object.
- Convert the String to Date using LocalDate.parse() method.
- If converted successfully, then print the Date
- If the String pattern is invalid, then IllegalArgumentException is thrown.
- If not converted successfully, then DateTimeParseException is thrown.
Example:
Java
// Java program to convert String to Date// Using DateTimeFormatter ClassÂ
// Importing required classesimport java.time.LocalDate;import java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter;import java.time.format.DateTimeParseException;Â
// Main classclass GFG {Â
    // Method 1    // To convert String to Date    public static LocalDate    getDateFromString(String string,                      DateTimeFormatter format)    {        // Converting the string to date        // in the specified format        LocalDate date = LocalDate.parse(string, format);Â
        // Returning the converted date        return date;    }Â
    // Method 2    // Main driver method    public static void main(String[] args)    {        // Getting the custom string input        String string = "28 October, 2018";Â
        // Getting the format by creating an object of        // DateTImeFormatter class        DateTimeFormatter format            = DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("d MMMM, yyyy");Â
        // Try block to check for exceptions        try {Â
            // Getting the Date from String            LocalDate date                = getDateFromString(string, format);Â
            // Printing the converted date            System.out.println(date);        }Â
        // Block 1        // Catch block to handle exceptions occurring        // if the String pattern is invalid        catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {Â
            // Display the exception            System.out.println("Exception: " + e);        }Â
        // Block 2        // If the String was unable to be parsed        catch (DateTimeParseException e) {Â
            // Display the exception            System.out.println("Exception: " + e);        }    }} |
Output:
2018-10-28
Â
Method 3: Using SimpleDateFormat class
Approach:
- Taking string input and storing it into a string
- Creating an object of Date class with reference to SimpleDateFormat class
- parsing date format into it.
- Print the corresponding date.
Example:
Java
// Java Program to Convert String to Date// Using SimpleDateFormat classÂ
// Importing required classesimport java.text.SimpleDateFormat;import java.util.Date;Â
// Main classclass GFG {Â
    // Main driver method    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception    {Â
        // Custom string as input        String strDate = "29/12/96";Â
        // Creating an object of Date class with reference        // to SimpleDateFormat class and        // lately parsing the above string into it        Date date = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/mm/yyyy")                        .parse(strDate);Â
        // Print and display the date corresponding        // to above input string        System.out.print(strDate + " " + date);    }} |
Output
29/12/96 Fri Jan 29 00:12:00 UTC 96
Output: Also when. run on the terminal, it is as follows: Â
