In Java we can use java.util.Date package or java.util.Calendar to work with Date and time. Let us see some simple examples.

1) java.util.Date

• Get current Date

  Date date = new Date();
  System.out.println(date);

  Output

  Sat May 14 16:21:23 IST 2016

• Convert String to date

  SimpleDateFormat simpleDateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/MM/yyyy");
  String strDate = "12/05/2016";
  Date date = simpleDateFormat.parse(strDate);
  System.out.println(date);

  Output

  Thu May 12 00:00:00 IST 2016

• Date formatting using date formatter

  Date date = new Date();
  SimpleDateFormat simpleDateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/MM/yyyy");
  System.out.println(simpleDateFormat.format(date));

  Output

  14/05/2016

• Get current date time

  SimpleDateFormat simpleDateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/MM/yyyy hh:mm:ss");
  Date date = new Date();
  System.out.println(simpleDateFormat.format(date));

  Output

  14/05/2016 04:42:16

2) java.util.Calendar

• Get current Date

  Calendar calendar = Calendar.getInstance();
  Date date = calendar.getTime();
  System.out.println(date);

  Output

  Sat May 14 22:21:06 IST 2016

• Convert String to Calendar

  SimpleDateFormat simpleDateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/MM/yyyy");
  String strDate = "12/05/2016";
  Date date = simpleDateFormat.parse(strDate);
  Calendar calendar = Calendar.getInstance();
  calendar.setTime(date);
  System.out.println(date);

  Output

  Thu May 12 00:00:00 IST 2016

• Get current date time

  SimpleDateFormat simpleDateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/MM/yyyy hh:mm:ss");
  Calendar calendar = Calendar.getInstance();
  Date date = calendar.getTime();
  System.out.println(simpleDateFormat.format(date));

  Output

  14/05/2016 10:26:39

• Add and subtract from date

  Calendar calendar = Calendar.getInstance();
  System.out.println(calendar.getTime());
  		
  //Increment month by 1
  calendar.add(Calendar.MONTH, 1);
  System.out.println(calendar.getTime());
  		
  //Decrement month by 1
  calendar.add(Calendar.MONTH, -1);
  System.out.println(calendar.getTime());
  		
  //Increment day of month by 5
  calendar.add(Calendar.DAY_OF_MONTH, 5);
  System.out.println(calendar.getTime());
  		
  //Decrement day of month by 10
  calendar.add(Calendar.DAY_OF_MONTH, -10);
  System.out.println(calendar.getTime());

  Output

  Sat May 14 22:27:26 IST 2016
  Tue Jun 14 22:27:26 IST 2016
  Sat May 14 22:27:26 IST 2016
  Thu May 19 22:27:26 IST 2016
  Mon May 09 22:27:26 IST 2016