Get current Date and Time in Qt

This code example shows how to get current date and time using Qt C++ and QML. Note that the code example shows how to use Qt C++ APIs, while only code snippets are provided for QML.

Article Metadata

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Code Example

Source file: Media:QtSystemTime.zip

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Tested with

Devices(s): Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

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Compatibility

Platform(s): S60 3rd Edition, FP1, FP2
S60 5th Edition

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Platform Security

Signing Required: Self-Signed

Capabilities: None

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Article

Keywords: QDateTime::currentDateTime(), QDate::currentDate(), QTime::currentTime()

Created: savaj (11 Jun 2009)

Updated: hamishwillee (20 Feb 2012)

Last edited: hamishwillee (11 Oct 2012)

QML

The current date/time can be obtained in QML using Javascript’s date:

var today = new Date() // contains current date and time

QML provides the Qt.formatDate() and Qt.formatDateTime() methods for formatting this value. You can also dynamically declare dates using the QML date basic type.

An example displaying the current date in YYMMDD format might look like:

Rectangle {
    width: 200
    height: 200
    Text {
        anchors.centerIn: parent
        text: Qt.formatDateTime(new Date(), "yyMMdd")
    }
}

Qt C++ API

The main Qt C++ methods for getting the current date and time are:

• QDateTime::currentDateTime() returns the current date and time, as reported by the system clock, in the local time zone.
• QDate::currentDate() returns the current date, as reported by the system clock, in the local time zone.
• QTime::currentTime() returns the current time, as reported by the system clock, in the local time zone.

Headers required

#include <QDateTime>

Source

SystemTime::SystemTime(QWidget *parent)
    : QMainWindow(parent)
{
	ui.setupUi(this);
	setWindowTitle("System Time");
	ui.statusbar->showMessage("Showing system time");
 
	//get current date
	QDate date = QDate::currentDate();
	QString dateString = date.toString();
	ui.label->setText("Date: " + dateString);
 
	//get current time
	QTime time = QTime::currentTime();
	QString timeString = time.toString();
	ui.label_2->setText("Time: " + timeString);
 
	//get current date and time
	QDateTime dateTime = QDateTime::currentDateTime();
	QString dateTimeString = dateTime.toString();
	ui.label_3->setText("Date and Time: " + dateTimeString);
}

Screenshot

The code snippet is expected to show current date and time of device.

Code Example

• The Code Example will show current date and time on screen and example is tested on Nokia 5800 XpressMusic.