How to Format a Date as YYYY-MM-DD in Java

Summary: Learn how to format a date as YYYY-MM-DD in Java using modern API techniques and libraries like SimpleDateFormat and DateTimeFormatter.
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Modern Date-Time API: DateTimeFormatter

Here's a quick example:

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Explanation:

Legacy Date-Time API: SimpleDateFormat

Before Java 8, SimpleDateFormat was the standard way to handle date formatting. It’s a bit more cumbersome because of its mutability and lack of thread-safety, but it still works for many existing applications.

Here's how you can do it:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation:

new Date(): Creates a new Date object representing the current date and time.

SimpleDateFormat(String pattern): Constructs a SimpleDateFormat using the given pattern ("yyyy-MM-dd").

Considerations for Production Code

Thread-safety: DateTimeFormatter instances are immutable and thread-safe. If you're using SimpleDateFormat, avoid sharing instances between threads without synchronization.

Localization: Consider the locale if you are dealing with international date formats. DateTimeFormatter provides localization options, making it more flexible than SimpleDateFormat.

In conclusion, while the SimpleDateFormat might still be used in older Java applications, the introduction of DateTimeFormatter in Java 8 provides a more reliable and thread-safe approach to date formatting. Whether you're dealing with business applications or simple projects, understanding these tools will help you efficiently and effectively format dates.

Happy coding!