Module java.base
Package java.text

Class DateFormatSymbols

java.lang.Object
java.text.DateFormatSymbols
All Implemented Interfaces:
Serializable, Cloneable
public class DateFormatSymbols extends Object implements Serializable, Cloneable
DateFormatSymbols is a public class for encapsulating localizable date-time formatting data, such as the names of the months, the names of the days of the week, and the time zone data. SimpleDateFormat uses DateFormatSymbols to encapsulate this information.

Typically you shouldn't use DateFormatSymbols directly. Rather, you are encouraged to create a date-time formatter with the DateFormat class's factory methods: getTimeInstance, getDateInstance, or getDateTimeInstance. These methods automatically create a DateFormatSymbols for the formatter so that you don't have to. After the formatter is created, you may modify its format pattern using the setPattern method. For more information about creating formatters using DateFormat's factory methods, see DateFormat.

If you decide to create a date-time formatter with a specific format pattern for a specific locale, you can do so with: 

new SimpleDateFormat(aPattern, DateFormatSymbols.getInstance(aLocale));

If the locale contains "rg" (region override) Unicode extension, the symbols are overridden for the designated region.

DateFormatSymbols objects are cloneable. When you obtain a DateFormatSymbols object, feel free to modify the date-time formatting data. For instance, you can replace the localized date-time format pattern characters with the ones that you feel easy to remember. Or you can change the representative cities to your favorite ones.

New DateFormatSymbols subclasses may be added to support SimpleDateFormat for date-time formatting for additional locales.

Since:
1.1
See Also:

  • Constructor Details

  • Method Details

    • getAvailableLocales

      public static Locale[] getAvailableLocales()
      Returns an array of all locales for which the getInstance methods of this class can return localized instances. The returned array represents the union of locales supported by the Java runtime and by installed DateFormatSymbolsProvider implementations. At a minimum, the returned array must contain a Locale instance equal to Locale.ROOT and a Locale instance equal to Locale.US.
      Returns:
      An array of locales for which localized DateFormatSymbols instances are available.
      Since:
      1.6

    • getInstance

      public static final DateFormatSymbols getInstance()
      Gets the DateFormatSymbols instance for the default locale. This method provides access to DateFormatSymbols instances for locales supported by the Java runtime itself as well as for those supported by installed DateFormatSymbolsProvider implementations.

      This is equivalent to calling getInstance(Locale.getDefault(Locale.Category.FORMAT)).

      Returns:
      a DateFormatSymbols instance.
      Since:
      1.6
      See Also:

    • getInstance

      public static final DateFormatSymbols getInstance(Locale locale)
      Gets the DateFormatSymbols instance for the specified locale. This method provides access to DateFormatSymbols instances for locales supported by the Java runtime itself as well as for those supported by installed DateFormatSymbolsProvider implementations.
      Parameters:
      locale - the given locale.
      Returns:
      a DateFormatSymbols instance.
      Throws:
      NullPointerException - if locale is null
      Since:
      1.6

    • getEras

      public String[] getEras()
      Gets era strings. For example: "AD" and "BC".
      Returns:
      the era strings.

    • setEras

      public void setEras(String[] newEras)
      Sets era strings. For example: "AD" and "BC".
      Parameters:
      newEras - the new era strings.

    • getMonths

      public String[] getMonths()
      Gets month strings. For example: "January", "February", etc. An array with either 12 or 13 elements will be returned depending on whether or not Calendar.UNDECIMBER is supported. Use Calendar.JANUARY, Calendar.FEBRUARY, etc. to index the result array.

      If the language requires different forms for formatting and stand-alone usages, this method returns month names in the formatting form. For example, the preferred month name for January in the Czech language is ledna in the formatting form, while it is leden in the stand-alone form. This method returns "ledna" in this case. Refer to the Calendar Elements in the Unicode Locale Data Markup Language (LDML) specification for more details.

      Implementation Requirements:
      This method returns 13 elements since Calendar.UNDECIMBER is supported.
      Returns:
      the month strings.
      External Specifications

    • setMonths

      public void setMonths(String[] newMonths)
      Sets month strings. For example: "January", "February", etc.
      Parameters:
      newMonths - the new month strings. The array should be indexed by Calendar.JANUARY, Calendar.FEBRUARY, etc.

    • getShortMonths

      public String[] getShortMonths()
      Gets short month strings. For example: "Jan", "Feb", etc. An array with either 12 or 13 elements will be returned depending on whether or not Calendar.UNDECIMBER is supported. Use Calendar.JANUARY, Calendar.FEBRUARY, etc. to index the result array.

      If the language requires different forms for formatting and stand-alone usages, this method returns short month names in the formatting form. For example, the preferred abbreviation for January in the Catalan language is de gen. in the formatting form, while it is gen. in the stand-alone form. This method returns "de gen." in this case. Refer to the Calendar Elements in the Unicode Locale Data Markup Language (LDML) specification for more details.

      Implementation Requirements:
      This method returns 13 elements since Calendar.UNDECIMBER is supported.
      Returns:
      the short month strings.
      External Specifications

    • setShortMonths

      public void setShortMonths(String[] newShortMonths)
      Sets short month strings. For example: "Jan", "Feb", etc.
      Parameters:
      newShortMonths - the new short month strings. The array should be indexed by Calendar.JANUARY, Calendar.FEBRUARY, etc.

    • getWeekdays

      public String[] getWeekdays()
      Gets weekday strings. For example: "Sunday", "Monday", etc.
      Returns:
      the weekday strings. Use Calendar.SUNDAY, Calendar.MONDAY, etc. to index the result array.

    • setWeekdays

      public void setWeekdays(String[] newWeekdays)
      Sets weekday strings. For example: "Sunday", "Monday", etc.
      Parameters:
      newWeekdays - the new weekday strings. The array should be indexed by Calendar.SUNDAY, Calendar.MONDAY, etc.

    • getShortWeekdays

      public String[] getShortWeekdays()
      Gets short weekday strings. For example: "Sun", "Mon", etc.
      Returns:
      the short weekday strings. Use Calendar.SUNDAY, Calendar.MONDAY, etc. to index the result array.

    • setShortWeekdays

      public void setShortWeekdays(String[] newShortWeekdays)
      Sets short weekday strings. For example: "Sun", "Mon", etc.
      Parameters:
      newShortWeekdays - the new short weekday strings. The array should be indexed by Calendar.SUNDAY, Calendar.MONDAY, etc.

    • getAmPmStrings

      public String[] getAmPmStrings()
      Gets ampm strings. For example: "AM" and "PM".
      Returns:
      the ampm strings.

    • setAmPmStrings

      public void setAmPmStrings(String[] newAmpms)
      Sets ampm strings. For example: "AM" and "PM".
      Parameters:
      newAmpms - the new ampm strings.

    • getZoneStrings

      public String[][] getZoneStrings()
      Gets time zone strings. Use of this method is discouraged; use TimeZone.getDisplayName() instead.

      The value returned is a two-dimensional array of strings of size n by m, where m is at least 5. Each of the n rows is an entry containing the localized names for a single TimeZone. Each such row contains (with i ranging from 0..n-1):

      • zoneStrings[i][0] - time zone ID
      • zoneStrings[i][1] - long name of zone in standard time
      • zoneStrings[i][2] - short name of zone in standard time
      • zoneStrings[i][3] - long name of zone in daylight saving time
      • zoneStrings[i][4] - short name of zone in daylight saving time
      The zone ID is not localized; it's one of the valid IDs of the TimeZone class that are not custom IDs. All other entries are localized names. If a zone does not implement daylight saving time, the daylight saving time names should not be used.

      If setZoneStrings has been called on this DateFormatSymbols instance, then the strings provided by that call are returned. Otherwise, the returned array contains names provided by the Java runtime and by installed TimeZoneNameProvider implementations.

      Returns:
      the time zone strings.
      See Also:

    • setZoneStrings

      public void setZoneStrings(String[][] newZoneStrings)
      Sets time zone strings. The argument must be a two-dimensional array of strings of size n by m, where m is at least 5. Each of the n rows is an entry containing the localized names for a single TimeZone. Each such row contains (with i ranging from 0..n-1):
      • zoneStrings[i][0] - time zone ID
      • zoneStrings[i][1] - long name of zone in standard time
      • zoneStrings[i][2] - short name of zone in standard time
      • zoneStrings[i][3] - long name of zone in daylight saving time
      • zoneStrings[i][4] - short name of zone in daylight saving time
      The zone ID is not localized; it's one of the valid IDs of the TimeZone class that are not custom IDs. All other entries are localized names.
      Parameters:
      newZoneStrings - the new time zone strings.
      Throws:
      IllegalArgumentException - if the length of any row in newZoneStrings is less than 5
      NullPointerException - if newZoneStrings is null
      See Also:

    • getLocalPatternChars

      public String getLocalPatternChars()
      Gets localized date-time pattern characters. For example: 'u', 't', etc.
      Returns:
      the localized date-time pattern characters.

    • setLocalPatternChars

      public void setLocalPatternChars(String newLocalPatternChars)
      Sets localized date-time pattern characters. For example: 'u', 't', etc.
      Parameters:
      newLocalPatternChars - the new localized date-time pattern characters.

    • clone

      public Object clone()
      Overrides Cloneable
      Overrides:
      clone in class Object
      Returns:
      a clone of this instance.
      See Also:

    • hashCode

      public int hashCode()
      Override hashCode. Generates a hash code for the DateFormatSymbols object.
      Overrides:
      hashCode in class Object
      Returns:
      a hash code value for this object.
      See Also:

    • equals

      public boolean equals(Object obj)
      Override equals
      Overrides:
      equals in class Object
      Parameters:
      obj - the reference object with which to compare.
      Returns:
      true if this object is the same as the obj argument; false otherwise.
      See Also: