String to DateTime Flutter
Converting formatted strings into DateTime
objects in Flutter is essential for managing date and time data in your applications. This guide explores various methods to achieve this conversion using Dart’s inbuilt functions, milliseconds and microseconds epoch, and the intl
package, ensuring accurate and efficient date-time handling.
In Dart, there is a datatype called DateTime
which is used to handle date and time. It comes with multiple inbuilt functions that provide various details like the current date and time. In this guide, we will learn how to convert a formatted string into a DateTime
object in Dart. We will also look into different methods to change the format of DateTime
for better understanding of date, month, year, etc. While converting a DateTime
object into a string is straightforward, converting a string into a DateTime
object is slightly more complex.
Note: Not every string can be converted into a DateTime
object; the string must be related to date and time.
We have three methods to achieve this conversion:
Dart provides an inbuilt method DateTime.parse()
to convert a formatted string into a DateTime
object. Here are some examples:
void main() {
// DateTime.parse("your_string_you_want_to_change")
// Example 1:
print(DateTime.parse("2012-02-27 13:27:00"));
// Example 2:
print(DateTime.parse("20230811"));
}
Output:
2012-02-27 13:27:00.000
2023-08-11 00:00:00.000
Strings that can be converted using the above function:
Disadvantage:
This method can convert only a limited number of formatted strings.
You can convert integers representing milliseconds and microseconds since the Unix epoch to DateTime
objects using the following methods:
void main() {
// DateTime.fromMicrosecondsSinceEpoch(integer_you_want_to_change_into_datetime);
// DateTime.fromMillisecondsSinceEpoch(integer_you_want_to_change_into_datetime);
// Example 1:
print(DateTime.fromMillisecondsSinceEpoch(1691732035256));
print(DateTime.fromMicrosecondsSinceEpoch(1691732011600000));
}
Output:
2023-08-11 11:03:55.256
2023-08-11 11:03:31.600
Disadvantage:
This method can only convert integer values with up to 13 digits.
intl
PackageFirst, you need to add the intl
package to your project. Add the following to your pubspec.yaml
file:
dependencies:
intl: ^0.18.1
The intl
package allows you to convert a string into a DateTime
object and vice versa. Here’s how you can use it:
import 'package:intl/intl.dart';
void main() {
DateTime tempDate = DateFormat("format_for_your_string_you_want_to_convert").parse("datetime_string_you_want_to_convert");
// Example 1:
DateTime tempDate1 = DateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss").parse("2023-08-10 08:32:05");
print(tempDate1);
}
import 'package:intl/intl.dart';
void main() {
String date = DateFormat("format_string_for_datetime").format(DateTime.now());
// Example 1:
String date1 = DateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss").format(DateTime.now());
print(date1);
}
Output:
2023-08-11 11:03:31.000
Disadvantage:
You must know the format of the datetime string to convert it properly.
For more detailed information, you can refer to the article: Format Dates in Flutter.
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Method | Description | Example Code | Output | Disadvantage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Method 1: Using Inbuilt Method | Converts a formatted string into a DateTime object using DateTime.parse() . | dart void main() { print(DateTime.parse("2012-02-27 13:27:00")); print(DateTime.parse("20230811")); } | 2012-02-27 13:27:00.000 2023-08-11 00:00:00.000 | Can only convert a limited number of formatted strings. |
Method 2: Using Milliseconds and Microseconds Epoch | Converts integers representing milliseconds and microseconds since the Unix epoch to DateTime objects. | dart void main() { print(DateTime.fromMillisecondsSinceEpoch(1691732035256)); print(DateTime.fromMicrosecondsSinceEpoch(1691732011600000)); } | 2023-08-11 11:03:55.256 2023-08-11 11:03:31.600 | Can only convert integer values with up to 13 digits. |
Method 3: Using intl Package | Converts a string into a DateTime object and vice versa using the intl package. | 1. To convert string to DateTime: dart import 'package:intl/intl.dart'; void main() { DateTime tempDate = DateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss").parse("2023-08-10 08:32:05"); print(tempDate); } 2. To convert DateTime to formatted string: dart import 'package:intl/intl.dart'; void main() { String date1 = DateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss").format(DateTime.now()); print(date1); } | 2023-08-11 11:03:31.000 | You must know the format of the datetime string to convert it properly. |
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The DateTime
datatype in Dart is used to handle date and time. It comes with multiple inbuilt functions that provide various details like the current date and time, and it is essential for manipulating and formatting dates and times in Flutter applications.
Dart provides an inbuilt method DateTime.parse()
to convert a formatted string into a DateTime
object. Here are some examples:
void main() {
// Example 1:
print(DateTime.parse("2012-02-27 13:27:00"));
// Example 2:
print(DateTime.parse("20230811"));
}
Output:
2012-02-27 13:27:00.000
2023-08-11 00:00:00.000
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The DateTime.parse()
method can convert only a limited number of formatted strings. Some of the acceptable formats include:
You can convert integers representing milliseconds and microseconds since the Unix epoch into DateTime
objects using the following methods:
void main() {
// Example 1:
print(DateTime.fromMillisecondsSinceEpoch(1691732035256));
print(DateTime.fromMicrosecondsSinceEpoch(1691732011600000));
}
Output:
2023-08-11 11:03:55.256
2023-08-11 11:03:31.600
This method can only convert integer values with up to 13 digits accurately. Values with more than 13 digits might not convert correctly.
First, add the intl
package to your project by including the following in your pubspec.yaml
file:
dependencies:
intl: ^0.18.1
Then, you can use the intl
package to convert a string into a DateTime
object:
import 'package:intl/intl.dart';
void main() {
DateTime tempDate = DateFormat("format_for_your_string_you_want_to_convert").parse("datetime_string_you_want_to_convert");
// Example 1:
DateTime tempDate1 = DateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss").parse("2023-08-10 08:32:05");
print(tempDate1);
}
You can also use the intl
package to convert a DateTime
object into a formatted string:
import 'package:intl/intl.dart';
void main() {
String date = DateFormat("format_string_for_datetime").format(DateTime.now());
// Example 1:
String date1 = DateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss").format(DateTime.now());
print(date1);
}
Output:
2023-08-11 11:03:31.000
The main disadvantage of using the intl
package is that you must know the exact format of the datetime string you want to convert. Without knowing the correct format, the conversion might fail or produce incorrect results.
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