Also available as DateFormatPlay.java

/**
 * Example of using DateFormat object
 * shows current date using all 4 styles 
 *  (short, medium, long and full).
 *
 * also shows how to specify the Locale,
 * in this case we use the predefined Locale
 * for France.
 */

import java.util.*;
import java.text.*;

class DateFormatPlay {

    public static void main(String [] args) {
        // get the current date/time
        Date now = new Date();

        // try with each style (default Locale)
        showDate(DateFormat.SHORT,now);
        showDate(DateFormat.MEDIUM,now);
        showDate(DateFormat.LONG,now);
        showDate(DateFormat.FULL,now);

        // now try with the locale for france
        showDate(DateFormat.SHORT,now,Locale.FRANCE);
        showDate(DateFormat.MEDIUM,now,Locale.FRANCE);
        showDate(DateFormat.LONG,now,Locale.FRANCE);
        showDate(DateFormat.FULL,now,Locale.FRANCE);
    }

    /**
     * prints a date using the specified style and the default Locale
     * @param style  style should be a valid DateFormat style value
     * @param d           the point in time to be displayed.
     */

    static void showDate( int style, Date d) {
        System.out.println( DateFormat.getDateInstance(style).format(d));
    }

    /**
     * prints a date using the specified style and Locale
     * @param style  style should be a valid DateFormat style value
     * @param d           the point in time to be displayed.
     * @param l           the Local to use when formating the date
     */

    static void showDate( int style, Date d, Locale l) {
        System.out.println( DateFormat.getDateInstance(style,l).format(d));
    }
}