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:
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 Class// Importing required classesimport java.time.Instant;import java.time.format.DateTimeParseException;// Main classclass GFG { // Method // To convert String to Date public static Instant getDateFromString(String string) { // Creating an instant object Instant timestamp = null; // Parsing the string to Date timestamp = Instant.parse(string); // Returning the converted timestamp return timestamp; } // Method 2 // Main driver method public static void main(String[] args) { // Getting the string String string = "2018-10-28T15:23:01Z"; // Try block to check for exceptions try { // Getting the Date from String by // creating object of Instant class Instant timestamp = getDateFromString(string); // Printing the converted date System.out.println(timestamp); } // Catch block to handle exceptions catch (DateTimeParseException e) { // Throws DateTimeParseException // if the string cannot be parsed System.out.println("Exception: " + e); } }} |
Output:
2018-10-28T15:23:01Z
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 Class// Importing required classesimport java.time.LocalDate;import java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter;import java.time.format.DateTimeParseException;// Main classclass GFG { // 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); // Returning the converted date return date; } // Method 2 // Main driver method public static void main(String[] args) { // Getting the custom string input String string = "28 October, 2018"; // Getting the format by creating an object of // DateTImeFormatter class DateTimeFormatter format = DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("d MMMM, yyyy"); // Try block to check for exceptions try { // Getting the Date from String LocalDate date = getDateFromString(string, format); // Printing the converted date System.out.println(date); } // Block 1 // Catch block to handle exceptions occurring // if the String pattern is invalid catch (IllegalArgumentException e) { // Display the exception System.out.println("Exception: " + e); } // Block 2 // If the String was unable to be parsed catch (DateTimeParseException e) { // Display the exception System.out.println("Exception: " + e); } }} |
Output:
2018-10-28
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 class// Importing required classesimport java.text.SimpleDateFormat;import java.util.Date;// Main classclass GFG { // Main driver method public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception { // Custom string as input String strDate = "29/12/96"; // 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); // 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:
