Java Date vs. SQL Date: Which Should You Use in JDBC?

Choosing Between java.util.Date and java.sql.Date

In JDBC, dealing with Date classes can be a significant pain point. Databases often provide multiple datetime field formats, including date, time, and timestamp. JDBC provides corresponding Java classes for each format, all of which inherit from java.util.Date.

Understanding the Differences

• java.sql.Date: Represents a date without time information (year, month, day). It is not timezone-aware.
• java.sql.Time: Represents a time without date information (hours, minutes, seconds, milliseconds).
• java.sql.Timestamp: Represents a date with time information, down to nanosecond precision (although java.util.Date only supports milliseconds).

Common Pitfalls

JDBC drivers often handle these types incorrectly, leading to bugs. For instance, sql.Date may be timezone-specific, while sql.Time may contain the current year, month, and day despite not having that information in its data.

Choosing the Right Type

Ultimately, the choice depends on the SQL type of the field being accessed. PreparedStatement provides setters for all three types: #setDate(), #setTime(), and #setTimestamp().

However, it's important to note that using ps.setObject(fieldIndex, utilDateObject); with a regular util.Date can lead to issues when retrieving the data from the database.

Avoiding Date Class Use

Ideally, dates and times should be stored as plain longs representing milliseconds or nanoseconds. These can be easily converted to and from objects or used directly in SQL queries. This approach avoids the complexity and potential pitfalls of the JDBC/Java Date API.

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