Can't parse date from string

Question

I can't parse date from string via NSDateFormatter. The date string is @"2014-01-21T20:00:36+04:00". I am trying to use this format string: @"yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss" but it doesn't work. Please help me.

The full code is:

NSDateFormatter * dateFormatter = [[NSDateFormatter alloc] init];
dateFormatter.dateFormat = @"yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ssZ";
NSDate * date = [dateFormatter dateFromString:dateString];

See [here](http://www.unicode.org/reports/tr35/tr35-25.html#Date_Format_Patterns) for date format patterns. And also see [this question](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/6613110/what-is-the-best-way-to-deal-with-the-nsdateformatter-locale-feature) for info on something that will bite you if you don't watch out. — Hot Licks, Jan 22 '14 at 23:28
And most people put the T in single quotes, though I'm not sure it's necessary. — Hot Licks, Jan 22 '14 at 23:29
BTW, this is probably about #3 on the most asked questions list, so be nice or we'll vote you down and close the question as a dupe. — Hot Licks, Jan 22 '14 at 23:31
@HotLicks sorry i was really confused by this problem and didn't know how to solve :) — Alexander Perechnev, Jan 22 '14 at 23:34

Julian · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-22T23:36:28.763

1

add Z at the end @"yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ssZZZZZ" as you have timezone included

edited Jan 22 '14 at 23:36

answered Jan 22 '14 at 23:22

Julian

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Use ZZZZZ for the timezone -- it's a sleepy one. – Hot Licks Jan 22 '14 at 23:25
@AlexanderPerechnev - I beg to differ. – Hot Licks Jan 22 '14 at 23:28
1

try to put T in ' so make it @"yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ssZZZ" and only 3 times Z – Julian Jan 22 '14 at 23:31

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 22 '14 at 23:42

Following on from http://unicode.org/reports/tr35/tr35-6.html#Date_Format_Patterns

NSString *dateString = @"2014-01-21T20:00:36+04:00";
NSDateFormatter *dateFormat = [[NSDateFormatter alloc] init];

dateFormat.dateFormat = @"yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ssZZZZZ";
NSDate *date = [dateFormat dateFromString:dateString];

NSLog(@"Parsed date is %@", date);

yields the following output which seems correct

Parsed date is 2014-01-21 16:00:36 +0000

Can't parse date from string

2 Answers2