LocalDate
- Java course
- Advanced
- Lesson 19/82
- 5 min
Learn dates with LocalDate.
Dates with LocalDate
LocalDate represents a date without time or zone: year, month and day. It lives in the java.time package and is immutable.
Example: LocalDate today = LocalDate.now(); or LocalDate bd = LocalDate.of(2000, 5, 15);. To add days to a date you use plusDays(7); this returns a new LocalDate and leaves the old one unchanged. This design keeps date math safe.
Adding and subtracting values
Because LocalDate is immutable, additions and subtractions return a new object. plusDays, plusMonths, plusYears add; minusDays, minusMonths subtract.
Example: LocalDate next = bd.plusDays(7).plusMonths(1);. Here 7 days are added first, then 1 month. Chaining lets you express consecutive operations on one line. The result is always a new LocalDate; the original stays unchanged.
Practice Add seven days to a date
Create a date with LocalDate.of(2024, 1, 15). Add seven days with plusDays(7) and print the result with System.out.println.
Starter code
import java.time.LocalDate;
// Create Jan 15 2024 with LocalDate.of
// Add seven days with plusDays
// Print the resultSample solution
import java.time.LocalDate;
public class DatePlusDays {
public static void main(String[] args) {
LocalDate date = LocalDate.of(2024, 1, 15);
System.out.println(date.plusDays(7));
}
}Expected output
2024-01-22
Questions and answers
Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.
1 Which class represents a date without time?
- LocalDateTime
- LocalTime
- LocalDate Correct answer
- Instant
Explanation: LocalDate holds year, month and day; no time.
2 Complete the LocalDate.of call
LocalDate bd = LocalDate.____(2000, 5, 15);LocalDate bd = LocalDate.of(2000, 5, 15);Explanation: of creates a specific date.
3 Match the LocalDate methods
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
LocalDate.now |
Today |
LocalDate.of |
Specific date |
plusDays |
Add days |
minusMonths |
Subtract months |