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Working with Date and Time Objects in the Java 8 Date/Time API

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In Brief...

Java 8 has introduced a new Date and Time API that is more intuitive and less cumbersome than the standard java.util.Date and java.util.Calendar packages. The new date and time API is located in java.time. You can create a local date/time object that contains both the date and the time (including milliseconds, a local time object containing only the time, and a local date object containing only the date. To obtain the current date and/or time, you will use the now method. To create other times and/or dates, you will use the of method. To learn how to work with date and time objects in Java 8, follow these four steps.

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Instructions

  1. Open your text editor and create the Java program that will demonstrate working with date and time objects. Type in the following Java statements:
    import java.time.*;
public class WorkingWithDateAndTime {
	public static void main (String args[]) {
		// Create a local date time object:
		LocalDateTime today=LocalDateTime.now();
		System.out.format("Current date and time is %s\n", today);
		
		// Create a local time object:
		LocalTime timeNow=LocalTime.now();
		System.out.format("Current time is %s\n", timeNow);
		
		// Create a local date object:
		LocalDate dateToday=LocalDate.now();
		System.out.format("Current date is %s\n" , dateToday);	
		
		// Create a date time object from a date object and a time object:
		LocalDateTime todayFromDateAndTime=LocalDateTime.of(dateToday, timeNow);
		System.out.format("Current date and time date from date and time objects is %s\n", todayFromDateAndTime);
		
		// Create a date time of July 4, 1988 4AM:
		LocalDateTime july4_1988_4AM=LocalDateTime.of(1988, Month.JULY, 4, 4, 0, 0);
		System.out.format("Fourth of July, 1988 at 4AM: %s\n", july4_1988_4AM);
	}
}

    The LocalDateTime class can be used to create a date time object. The now method returns an object representing the current date and current time. The LocalTime and LocalDate classes also support a now method that returns the current time or current date, respectively. We also create a date/time object from the local date and time objects using the of method. In addition, you can use the of method to create a date/time object with a past or future value. In the program we create a date time object representing July 4, 1988.

  2. Save your file as WorkingWithDateAndTime.java.
  3. Open a command prompt and navigate to the directory containing your new Java program. Then type in the command to compile the source and hit Enter.
    Compile Program with Date Time
  4. You are ready to test your Java program. Type in the command to run the Java runtime launcher and hit Enter. Notice the output shows the values of the various date and time objects that you created.
    Run Program with Date Time

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Author: Stephen Withrow

Stephen has over 30 years' experience in training, development, and consulting in a variety of technology areas including Java, C, C++, XML, JavaScript, AJAX, Tomcat, JBoss, Oracle, and DB2. His background includes design and implementation of business solutions on client/server, Web, and enterprise platforms. Stephen is a published writer in both technical and non-technical endeavors. Stephen received an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Physics from Florida State University.

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