Tuesday, January 20, 2026
HomeLanguagesJavaSimpleDateFormat format() Method in Java with Examples

SimpleDateFormat format() Method in Java with Examples

The format() Method of SimpleDateFormat class is used to format a given date into Date/Time string. Basically the method is used to convert this date and time into a particular format for say mm/dd/yyyy.
Syntax: 
 

public final String format(Date date)

Parameters: The method takes one parameter date of Date object type and refers to the date whose string output is to be produced.
Return Value: The method returns Date or time in string format of mm/dd/yyyy.
Below programs illustrate the working of format() Method of SimpleDateFormat:
Example 1: 
 

Java




// Java code to illustrate format() method
 
import java.text.*;
import java.util.Calendar;
 
public class SimpleDateFormat_Demo {
    public static void main(String[] args)
        throws InterruptedException
    {
        SimpleDateFormat SDFormat
            = new SimpleDateFormat("MM/dd/yyyy");
 
        // Initializing the calendar Object
        Calendar cal = Calendar.getInstance();
 
        // Displaying the actual date
        System.out.println("The original Date: "
                           + cal.getTime());
 
        // Using format() method for conversion
        String curr_date
            = SDFormat.format(cal.getTime());
        System.out.println("Formatted Date: "
                           + curr_date);
    }
}


Output: 

The original Date: Tue Jan 29 12:23:40 UTC 2019
Formatted Date: 01/29/2019

 

Example 2: 
 

Java




// Java code to illustrate format() method
 
import java.text.*;
import java.util.Calendar;
 
public class SimpleDateFormat_Demo {
    public static void main(String[] args)
        throws InterruptedException
    {
        SimpleDateFormat SDFormat
            = new SimpleDateFormat();
 
        // Initializing the calendar Object
        Calendar cal = Calendar.getInstance();
 
        // Displaying the actual date
        System.out.println("The original Date: "
                           + cal.getTime());
 
        // Using format() method for conversion
        String curr_date = SDFormat.format(cal.getTime());
        System.out.println("Formatted Date: "
                           + curr_date);
    }
}


Output: 

The original Date: Tue Jan 29 12:29:32 UTC 2019
Formatted Date: 1/29/19 12:29 PM

 

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular

Dominic
32475 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Milvus
118 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nango Kala
6847 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nicole Veronica
11977 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nokonwaba Nkukhwana
12064 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Shaida Kate Naidoo
6986 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Ted Musemwa
7220 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Thapelo Manthata
6933 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Umr Jansen
6912 POSTS0 COMMENTS