java LocalDateTime vs Calendar.getInstant

java

java.time.LocalDateTime and java.util.Calendar.getInstant() are both classes in Java that can be used to represent a specific point in time. However, they have some differences that you should consider when choosing which one to use.

java.time.LocalDateTime is a class in the java.time package that represents a date-time without a time-zone in the ISO-8601 calendar system. It stores the date and time as separate fields, and it provides a number of methods for manipulating and formatting the date and time.

java.util.Calendar.getInstant() is a method in the java.util.Calendar class that returns an Instant object representing the current point in time. The Instant class is a part of the java.time package, and it represents a specific point in time with nanosecond precision, relative to the epoch (1970-01-01T00:00:00Z).

There are a few key differences between LocalDateTime and Calendar.getInstant():

  • Precision: LocalDateTime has a precision of seconds, while Instant has a precision of nanoseconds.
  • Time zone: LocalDateTime does not have a time-zone, while Instant is always in the UTC time-zone.
  • Compatibility: LocalDateTime is available in Java 8 and later, while Calendar.getInstant() is available in Java 8 and later, but the Calendar class is deprecated in Java 9 and later.

When deciding which class to use, you should consider the precision and time-zone requirements of your application, as well as the compatibility with different versions of Java. In general, it is recommended to use the java.time package for working with dates and times in Java, as it provides a more modern and consistent API for handling time-related tasks.