Pattern.format(date) vs Date.fomat(Pattern)?

Question

I came to know that DateTimeFormatter has two implementation for formatting the date.

1. Pattern.format(date)

2. Date.format(pattern)

   public static void main(String[] args) {
        DateTimeFormatter pattern = DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("MM/dd/yyyy");
        LocalDate date = LocalDate.now();
        String dateFormatText = date.format(pattern);
        String patternFormatText = pattern.format(date); 
        System.out.println(dateFormatText);
        System.out.println(patternFormatText);
   }
   
   

Both the SysOut prints the same value.

The Oracle docs examples uses Date.format method, whereas I can see many tech blogs using the Pattern.format method.

Can anyone explain me what is the difference and which is best to use?

Source Code Demo : Here

Answer 1

Can anyone explain me what is the difference?

There is no significant difference.

The javadoc for LocalDateTime.format says:

public String format(DateTimeFormatter formatter)

Formats this date-time using the specified formatter.

This date-time will be passed to the formatter to produce a string.

In other words, LocalDateTime.format calls DateTimeFormatter.format.

---

... and which is best to use?

Neither is "best".

It is up to you decide which form expresses your intention more clearly. Do you want to say:

• "LocalDateTime: format yourself with this formatter", or
• "DateTimeFormatter: format this temporal value".