How Can I Format Dates in C# Similar to VB.NET\'s `format()` Function?

Formatting Dates in C#

In VB.NET, formatting dates is achieved using the format() function with the desired format strings, such as "dd/mm/yy". How can we achieve similar formatting in C#?

C# Implementation

C# offers a parallel solution through the DateTime.ToString() method:

<code class="c#">DateTime.Now.ToString("dd/MM/yy"); // dd/mm/yy format</code>

This method allows for customization of date formatting using format strings. For instance, to format a date in the "mm/dd/yy" format:

<code class="c#">DateTime.Now.ToString("MM/dd/yy"); // mm/dd/yy format</code>

Predefined Formats

For convenience, C# provides predefined date/time formats:

<code class="c#">DateTime.Now.ToString("g"); // "02/01/2009 9:07 PM" for en-US, "01.02.2009 21:07" for de-CH</code>

These ensure locale-independent formatting.

Locale-Specific Formatting

To format dates based on specific locales, use the CultureInfo class:

<code class="c#">DateTime dt = GetDate();
dt.ToString("g", new CultureInfo("en-US")); // "5/26/2009 10:39 PM" in en-US</code>

Alternatively, you can set the thread's CultureInfo:

<code class="c#">Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = new CultureInfo("en-US");
dt.ToString("g"); // "5/26/2009 10:39 PM" in en-US</code>

By utilizing the ToString() method and its formatting options, you can effectively format dates in C#, whether in custom, predefined, or locale-specific formats.

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