// Java program to compare date using
// before() and after() method
import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;
import java.util.*;
public class p22 {
public static void main(String args[]) {
try {
//define date format to take input
SimpleDateFormat dateF = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/MM/yyyy");
Scanner sc = new Scanner(System.in); //string object
String dtString1 = "", dtString2 = "";
System.out.print("Enter first date in dd/MM/yyyy format:");
dtString1 = sc.nextLine();
System.out.print("Enter second date in dd/MM/yyyy format:");
dtString2 = sc.nextLine();
//convert input date string into Date
Date dt1 = dateF.parse(dtString1);
Date dt2 = dateF.parse(dtString2);
System.out.println("First Date is: " + dt1.toString());
System.out.println("Second Date is: " + dt2.toString());
if (dt1.after(dt2)) {
System.out.println(dt1.toString() + " is greater than " + dt2.toString());
} else if (dt1.before(dt2)) {
System.out.println(dt1.toString() + " is less than " + dt2.toString());
} else {
System.out.println(dt1.toString() + " is equal to " + dt2.toString());
}
} catch (Exception e) {
System.out.println("Exception is: " + e.toString());
}
}
}
Output
First Run:
Enter first date in dd/MM/yyyy format:21/08/2009
Enter second date in dd/MM/yyyy format:21/09/2008
First Date is: Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 IST 2009
Second Date is: Sun Sep 21 00:00:00 IST 2008
Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 IST 2009 is greater than Sun Sep 21 00:00:00 IST 2008
Second Run:
Enter first date in dd/MM/yyyy format:21/08/2008
Enter second date in dd/MM/yyyy format:21/08/2009
First Date is: Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 IST 2008
Second Date is: Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 IST 2009
Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 IST 2008 is less than Fri Aug 21 00:00:00 IST 2009
Third Run:
Enter first date in dd/MM/yyyy format:21/08/2008
Enter second date in dd/MM/yyyy format:21/08/2008
First Date is: Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 IST 2008
Second Date is: Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 IST 2008
Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 IST 2008 is equal to Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 IST 2008
1) Date1.before(Date2) Method
It returns true if Date1 is less that Date2.
2) Date1.after(Date2) Method
It returns true if Date1 is greater than Date2.
Consider the program:
Output