Java.util.Date.before() Method

Description

The java.util.Date.before(Date when) method checks if this date is before the specified date.

Declaration

Following is the declaration for java.util.Date.before() method

public boolean before(Date when)

Parameters

• when -- date to be checked

Return Value

true if the represented Date object is strictly before than the instant represented by when; false otherwise.

Exception

• NullPointerException -- if when is null.

Example

The following example shows the usage of java.util.Date.before() method.

package com.tutorialspoint;

import java.util.*;

public class DateDemo {

   public static void main(String[] args) {

      // create 2 dates
      Date date = new Date(11, 5, 21);
      Date date2 = new Date(15, 1, 21);

      // tests if date 2 is before date and print
      boolean before = date2.before(date);
      System.out.println("Date 2 is before date: " + before);

      // tests if date is before date 2 and print
      before = date.before(date2);
      System.out.println("Date is before date 2: " + before);
   }
}

Let us compile and run the above program, this will produce the following result:

Date 2 is before date: false
Date is before date 2: true