// Format Date date = new Date(); String s = DateFormat.getDateInstance(DateFormat.SHORT).format(date); // 2/16/02 s = DateFormat.getDateInstance(DateFormat.MEDIUM).format(date); // Feb 16, 2002 s = DateFormat.getDateInstance(DateFormat.LONG).format(date); // February 16, 2002 s = DateFormat.getDateInstance(DateFormat.FULL).format(date); // Saturday, February 16, 2002 // This is same as MEDIUM s = DateFormat.getDateInstance().format(date); // Feb 16, 2002 // This is same as MEDIUM s = DateFormat.getDateInstance(DateFormat.DEFAULT).format(date); // Feb 16, 2002 // Parse try { date = DateFormat.getDateInstance(DateFormat.DEFAULT).parse("Feb 16, 2002"); } catch (ParseException e) { }