SimpleDateFormat equals() Method in Java with Examples

The equals() Method of SimpleDateFormat class is used to compare two SimpleDateFormat objects. The method returns True if this SimpleDateFormat is equal to the passed object else returns False.

Syntax:

public boolean equals(Object obj)

Parameters: The method takes one parameter obj of Object type and refers to the object that is to be compared with this SimpleDateFormat object.

Return Value: The method returns boolean True if both the objects are equal else the method returns False.

Below programs illustrate the working of equals() Method of SimpleDateFormat:
Example 1:

// Java code to illustrate equals() method

import java.text.*;
import java.util.*;

public class SimpleDateFormat_Demo {
    public static void main(String[] args)
        throws InterruptedException, ParseException
    {
        // Initializing the first formatter
        SimpleDateFormat SDFormat1
            = new SimpleDateFormat();

        // Initializing the second formatter
        SimpleDateFormat SDFormat2
            = new SimpleDateFormat();

        // Displaying both the Formats
        Date date = new Date();
        String str_Date1
            = SDFormat1.format(date);
        System.out.println("First: "
                           + (str_Date1));

        String str_Date2
            = SDFormat2.format(date);
        System.out.println("Second: "
                           + (str_Date2));

        // Comparing both the objects
        System.out.println("Equality: "
                           + SDFormat1.equals(SDFormat2));
    }
}

Output:

First: 1/30/19 9:59 AM
Second: 1/30/19 9:59 AM
Equality: true

Example 2:

// Java code to illustrate equals() method

import java.text.*;
import java.util.*;

public class SimpleDateFormat_Demo {
    public static void main(String[] args)
        throws InterruptedException, ParseException
    {
        // Initializing the first formatter
        SimpleDateFormat SDFormat1
            = new SimpleDateFormat();

        // Defining the SDFormat
        SDFormat1.applyPattern("MMM");

        // Initializing the second formatter
        SimpleDateFormat SDFormat2
            = new SimpleDateFormat();

        // Displaying both the Formats
        Date date = new Date();
        String str_Date1
            = SDFormat1.format(date);
        System.out.println("First:
                           + (str_Date1));

        String str_Date2
            = SDFormat2.format(date);
        System.out.println("Second: "
                           + (str_Date2));

        // Comparing both the objects
        System.out.println("Equality: "
                           + SDFormat1.equals(SDFormat2));
    }
}

Output:

First: Jan
Second: 1/30/19 10:00 AM
Equality: false