Date equals() method in Java with Examples

The equals() method of Java Date class checks if two Dates are equal, based on millisecond difference.

Syntax:

public boolean equals(Object obj)

Parameters: The function accepts a single parameter obj which specifies the object to be compared with.

Return Value: The function gives 2 return values specified below:

• true if the objects are equal.
• false if the objects are not equal.

Exception: The function does not throws any exception.

Program below demonstrates the above mentioned function:

// Java code to demonstrate
// equals() function of Date class

import java.util.Date;
import java.util.Calendar;
public class GfG {
    // main method
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {

        // creating a Calendar object
        Calendar c = Calendar.getInstance();

        // set Month
        // MONTH starts with 0 i.e. ( 0 - Jan)
        c.set(Calendar.MONTH, 11);

        // set Date
        c.set(Calendar.DATE, 05);

        // set Year
        c.set(Calendar.YEAR, 1996);

        // creating a date object with specified time.
        Date dateOne = c.getTime();

        System.out.println("Date 1: " + dateOne);

        // creating a date of object
        // storing the current date
        Date currentDate = new Date();

        System.out.println("Date 2: " + currentDate);

        System.out.println("Are both dates equal: "
                           + currentDate.equals(dateOne));
    }
}

Output:

Date 1: Thu Dec 05 08:19:56 UTC 1996
Date 2: Wed Jan 02 08:19:56 UTC 2019
Are both dates equal: false

// Java code to demonstrate
// equals() function of Date class

import java.util.Date;
import java.util.Calendar;
public class GfG {
    // main method
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {

        // creating a Calendar object
        Calendar c1 = Calendar.getInstance();

        // set Month
        // MONTH starts with 0 i.e. ( 0 - Jan)
        c1.set(Calendar.MONTH, 11);

        // set Date
        c1.set(Calendar.DATE, 05);

        // set Year
        c1.set(Calendar.YEAR, 1996);

        // creating a date object with specified time.
        Date dateOne = c1.getTime();

        System.out.println("Date 1: " + dateOne);

        // creating a Calendar object
        Calendar c2 = Calendar.getInstance();

        // set Month
        // MONTH starts with 0 i.e. ( 0 - Jan)
        c2.set(Calendar.MONTH, 11);

        // set Date
        c2.set(Calendar.DATE, 05);

        // set Year
        c2.set(Calendar.YEAR, 1995);

        // creating a date object with specified time.
        Date dateTwo = c2.getTime();

        System.out.println("Date 1: " + dateTwo);

        System.out.println("Are both dates equal: "
                           + dateTwo.equals(dateOne));
    }
}

Output:

Date 1: Thu Dec 05 08:20:05 UTC 1996
Date 1: Tue Dec 05 08:20:05 UTC 1995
Are both dates equal: false