SimpleDateFormat format() Method in Java with Examples

Last Updated : 01 Dec, 2021

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

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