Java Date.before() Method

public boolean before(Date dt)

The before() method is used to check if a given date is before another given date.

Package: java.util

Java Platform: Java SE 8

Syntax:

before(Date dt)

Parameters:

Return Value:
true if and only if the instant of time represented by this Date object is strictly earlier than the instant represented by when; false otherwise.

Return Value Type: boolean

Throws:
NullPointerException - if when is null.

Pictorial Presentation of Jave Date before() method:

Example: Java Date.before() Method

The following example fills a Date before(Date when) .

import java.util.*;
public class Main {
   public static void main(String[] args) {

      // create 2 dates
      Date dt1 = new Date(2017, 3, 31);
      Date dt2 = new Date(2017, 5, 14);

      // Check if dt1 is  before dt2
      boolean result = dt1.before(dt2);
      System.out.println("Date1 is before date2: " + result);

      // Check if dt2 is  after dt1
      result = dt2.before(dt1);
      System.out.println("Date2 is before date1: " + result);
   }
}
 

Output:

Date1 is before date2: true
Date2 is before date1: false

Example of Throws: before(Date when) Method

NullPointerException - if when is null.

Java Code Editor:

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