DateTime.ToString Method (String)
Converts the value of the current DateTime object to its equivalent string representation, using a specified format.
Namespace: System
Assembly: mscorlib (in mscorlib.dll)
Syntax
public string ToString (
string format
)
Parameters
- format
A string that specifies the format to be used for the returned string.
Return Value
A string representation of the value of the current DateTime object, in the specified format.
Remarks
The format parameter should contain either a format specifier character or a custom format pattern.
If format is a null reference or an empty string, the general format specifier, 'G', is used.
The following table describes the standard DateTime format specifiers.
| Format specifier | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| d | Short date pattern | Represents a custom DateTime format string defined by the current ShortDatePattern property. For example, the custom format string for the invariant culture is "MM/dd/yyyy". |
| D | Long date pattern | Represents a custom DateTime format string defined by the current LongDatePattern property. For example, the custom format string for the invariant culture is "dddd, dd MMMM yyyy". |
| f | Full date/time pattern (short time) | Represents a combination of the long date (D) and short time (t) patterns, separated by a space. |
| F | Full date/time pattern (long time) | Represents a custom DateTime format string defined by the current FullDateTimePattern property. |
| g | General date/time pattern (short time) | Represents a combination of the short date (d) and short time (t) patterns, separated by a space. |
| G | General date/time pattern (long time) | Represents a combination of the short date (d) and long time (T) patterns, separated by a space. |
| M or m | Month day pattern | Represents a custom DateTime format string defined by the current MonthDayPattern property. For example, the custom format string for the invariant culture is "MMMM dd". |
| s | Sortable date/time pattern; conforms to ISO 8601 | The custom format string is "yyyy'-'MM'-'dd'T'HH':'mm':'ss". |
| t | Short time pattern | Represents a custom DateTime format string defined by the current ShortTimePattern property. For example, the custom format string for the invariant culture is "HH:mm". |
| T | Long time pattern | Represents a custom DateTime format string defined by the current LongTimePattern property. |
| u | Universal sortable date/time pattern | The custom format string is "yyyy'-'MM'-'dd HH':'mm':'ss'Z'". |
| U | Universal sortable date/time pattern | Represents a custom DateTime format string defined by the current FullDateTimePattern property. This pattern is the same as the full date/long time (F) pattern. However, formatting operates on the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) that is equivalent to the DateTime object being formatted. |
| Y or y | Year month pattern | Represents a custom DateTime format string defined by the current YearMonthPattern property. For example, the custom format string for the invariant culture is "yyyy MMMM". |
Version Information
Available in the .NET Micro Framework versions 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 4.1, and 4.2.