java calculate time between two timestamps

Question

I need to calculate the time passed between two dates.

The catch here is that I need to show it as YouTube does with its video comments timestamps. That is, to show it by just the largest measure.

For example,

• if the time is 50 seconds ago it should say 50 seconds ago.
• if the time is more than one minute it should say one minute ago/ten minutes ago etc..
• if the time difference is 1 hour 30 mins it should show: an hour ago.
• if the time is one and a half week than it should say one week ago.
• if the time is more than a month it should say one month ago/two months ago etc...
• and so on and so on..

So what is the best way to handle this? Should I make a method with case or if statements that would return something like this? Or is there a better approach (maybe a library which already does something like it)?

Solution 1

Use DateUtils.getRelativeTimeSpanString(long time, long now, long minResolution). time is the start time, and now is the end time (in milliseconds). To report "seconds ago," set minResolution to zero.

Example:

String result = DateUtils.getRelativeTimeSpanString(1306767830, 1306767835, 0);
// result = "5 seconds ago"

Solution 2

 date1.getTime() - date2.getTime() 

This will return you the time in miliseconds between the 2 dates. Just convert that to what ever you want to show (e.g. hours minutes seconds)

Solution 3

On Android, use this: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/text/format/DateUtils.html#getRelativeTimeSpanString%28android.content.Context,%20long,%20boolean%29

Solution 4

Take a look at PrettyTime!

Also, everytime you want to do something date/time-related in Java, you should take a look at Joda Time. Do it now, you will thank me later.

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