# Class TimeValidator

java.lang.Object
org.apache.commons.validator.routines.AbstractFormatValidator
org.apache.commons.validator.routines.AbstractCalendarValidator
org.apache.commons.validator.routines.TimeValidator

All Implemented Interfaces:
  `Serializable`

public class TimeValidator extends AbstractCalendarValidator
Time Validation and Conversion routines (`java.util.Calendar`).

This validator provides a number of methods for validating/converting a `String` time value to a `java.util.Calendar` using `DateFormat` to parse either:

- using the default format for the default `Locale`
- using a specified pattern with the default `Locale`
- using the default format for a specified `Locale`
- using a specified pattern with a specified `Locale`

For each of the above mechanisms, conversion method (that is, the `validate` methods) implementations are provided which either use the default `TimeZone` or allow the `TimeZone` to be specified.

Use one of the `isValid()` methods to just validate or one of the `validate()` methods to validate and receive a converted `Calendar` value for the time.

Implementations of the `validate()` method are provided to create `Calendar` objects for different time zones if the system default is not appropriate.

Alternatively the CalendarValidator's `adjustToTimeZone()` method can be used to adjust the `TimeZone` of the `Calendar` object afterwards.

Once a value has been successfully converted the following methods can be used to perform various time comparison checks:

- `compareTime()` compares the hours, minutes, seconds and milliseconds of two calendars, returning 0, -1 or +1 indicating whether the first time is equal, before or after the second.
- `compareSeconds()` compares the hours, minutes and seconds of two times, returning 0, -1 or +1 indicating whether the first is equal to, before or after the second.
- `compareMinutes()` compares the hours and minutes two times, returning 0, -1 or +1 indicating whether the first is equal to, before or after the second.
- `compareHours()` compares the hours of two times, returning 0, -1 or +1 indicating whether the first is equal to, before or after the second.

So that the same mechanism used for parsing an input value for validation can be used to format output, corresponding `format()` methods are also provided. That is you can format either:

- using a specified pattern
- using the format for a specified `Locale`
- using the format for the default `Locale`

Since:
  1.3.0
See Also:
  - Serialized Form

- ## Constructor Summary

  Constructors
  Constructor
  Description
  `TimeValidator()`
  Constructs a strict instance with short time style.
  `TimeValidator(boolean strict, int timeStyle)`
  Constructs an instance with the specified strict and time style parameters.

- ## Method Summary

  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `int`
  `compareHours(Calendar value, Calendar compare)`
  Compare Hours.
  `int`
  `compareMinutes(Calendar value, Calendar compare)`
  Compare Minutes (hours and minutes).
  `int`
  `compareSeconds(Calendar value, Calendar compare)`
  Compare Seconds (hours, minutes and seconds).
  `int`
  `compareTime(Calendar value, Calendar compare)`
  Compare Times (hour, minute, second and millisecond - not date).
  `static TimeValidator`
  `getInstance()`
  Gets the singleton instance of this validator.
  `protected Object`
  `processParsedValue(Object value, Format formatter)`
  Convert the parsed `Date` to a `Calendar`.
  `Calendar`
  `validate(String value)`
  Validate/convert a time using the default `Locale` and `TimeZone`.
  `Calendar`
  `validate(String value, String pattern)`
  Validate/convert a time using the specified pattern and default `TimeZone`.
  `Calendar`
  `validate(String value, String pattern, Locale locale)`
  Validate/convert a time using the specified pattern and `Locale` and the default `TimeZone`.
  `Calendar`
  `validate(String value, String pattern, Locale locale, TimeZone timeZone)`
  Validate/convert a time using the specified pattern, `Locale` and `TimeZone`.
  `Calendar`
  `validate(String value, String pattern, TimeZone timeZone)`
  Validate/convert a time using the specified pattern and `TimeZone`.
  `Calendar`
  `validate(String value, Locale locale)`
  Validate/convert a time using the specified `Locale` default `TimeZone`.
  `Calendar`
  `validate(String value, Locale locale, TimeZone timeZone)`
  Validate/convert a time using the specified `Locale` and `TimeZone`.
  `Calendar`
  `validate(String value, TimeZone timeZone)`
  Validate/convert a time using the specified `TimeZone` and default `Locale`.

  ### Methods inherited from class AbstractCalendarValidator

  `compare, compareQuarters, compareTime, format, format, format, format, format, format, getFormat, getFormat, isValid, parse`
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `protected int`
  `compare(Calendar value, Calendar compare, int field)`
  Compares a calendar value to another, indicating whether it is equal, less than or more than at a specified level.
  `protected int`
  `compareQuarters(Calendar value, Calendar compare, int monthOfFirstQuarter)`
  Compares a calendar's quarter value to another, indicating whether it is equal, less than or more than the specified quarter.
  `protected int`
  `compareTime(Calendar value, Calendar compare, int field)`
  Compares a calendar time value to another, indicating whether it is equal, less than or more than at a specified level.
  `String`
  `format(Object value, String pattern, Locale locale)`
  Format an object using the specified pattern and/or `Locale`.
  `String`
  `format(Object value, String pattern, Locale locale, TimeZone timeZone)`
  Format an object using the specified pattern and/or `Locale`.
  `String`
  `format(Object value, String pattern, TimeZone timeZone)`
  Format an object into a `String` using the specified pattern.
  `protected String`
  `format(Object value, Format formatter)`
  Format a value with the specified `DateFormat`.
  `String`
  `format(Object value, Locale locale, TimeZone timeZone)`
  Format an object into a `String` using the specified Locale.
  `String`
  `format(Object value, TimeZone timeZone)`
  Format an object into a `String` using the default Locale.
  `protected Format`
  `getFormat(String pattern, Locale locale)`
  Returns a `DateFormat` for the specified pattern and/or `Locale`.
  `protected Format`
  `getFormat(Locale locale)`
  Returns a `DateFormat` for the specified Locale.
  `boolean`
  `isValid(String value, String pattern, Locale locale)`
  Validate using the specified `Locale`.
  `protected Object`
  `parse(String value, String pattern, Locale locale, TimeZone timeZone)`
  Checks if the value is valid against a specified pattern.

  ### Methods inherited from class AbstractFormatValidator

  `format, format, format, isStrict, isValid, isValid, isValid, parse`
  Modifier and Type
  Method
  Description
  `String`
  `format(Object value)`
  Formats an object into a `String` using the default Locale.
  `String`
  `format(Object value, String pattern)`
  Formats an object into a `String` using the specified pattern.
  `String`
  `format(Object value, Locale locale)`
  Formats an object into a `String` using the specified Locale.
  `boolean`
  `isStrict()`
  Tests whether validated values should adhere strictly to the `Format` used.
  `boolean`
  `isValid(String value)`
  Validates using the default `Locale`.
  `boolean`
  `isValid(String value, String pattern)`
  Validates using the specified pattern.
  `boolean`
  `isValid(String value, Locale locale)`
  Validates using the specified `Locale`.
  `protected Object`
  `parse(String value, Format formatter)`
  Parses the value with the specified `Format`.

  ### Methods inherited from class Object

  `clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait`

- ## Constructor Details

  - ### TimeValidator

    public TimeValidator()
    Constructs a strict instance with short time style.

  - ### TimeValidator

    public TimeValidator(boolean strict, int timeStyle)
    Constructs an instance with the specified strict and time style parameters.
    Parameters:
      `strict` - `true` if strict `Format` parsing should be used.
      `timeStyle` - The time style to use for Locale validation.

- ## Method Details

  - ### getInstance

    public static TimeValidator getInstance()
    Gets the singleton instance of this validator.
    Returns:
      A singleton instance of the TimeValidator.

  - ### compareHours

    public int compareHours(Calendar value, Calendar compare)
    Compare Hours.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The `Calendar` value to check.
      `compare` - The `Calendar` to compare the value to.
    Returns:
      Zero if the hours are equal, -1 if first parameter's hour is less than the seconds and +1 if the first parameter's hour is greater than.

  - ### compareMinutes

    public int compareMinutes(Calendar value, Calendar compare)
    Compare Minutes (hours and minutes).
    Parameters:
      `value` - The `Calendar` value to check.
      `compare` - The `Calendar` to compare the value to.
    Returns:
      Zero if the hours are equal, -1 if first parameter's minutes are less than the seconds and +1 if the first parameter's minutes are greater than.

  - ### compareSeconds

    public int compareSeconds(Calendar value, Calendar compare)
    Compare Seconds (hours, minutes and seconds).
    Parameters:
      `value` - The `Calendar` value to check.
      `compare` - The `Calendar` to compare the value to.
    Returns:
      Zero if the hours are equal, -1 if first parameter's seconds are less than the seconds and +1 if the first parameter's seconds are greater than.

  - ### compareTime

    public int compareTime(Calendar value, Calendar compare)
    Compare Times (hour, minute, second and millisecond - not date).
    Parameters:
      `value` - The `Calendar` value to check.
      `compare` - The `Calendar` to compare the value to.
    Returns:
      Zero if the hours are equal, -1 if first time is less than the seconds and +1 if the first time is greater than.

  - ### processParsedValue

    protected Object processParsedValue(Object value, Format formatter)
    Convert the parsed `Date` to a `Calendar`.
    Specified by:
      `processParsedValue` in class `AbstractCalendarValidator`
    Parameters:
      `value` - The parsed `Date` object created.
      `formatter` - The Format used to parse the value with.
    Returns:
      The parsed value converted to a `Calendar`.

  - ### validate

    public Calendar validate(String value)
    Validate/convert a time using the default `Locale` and `TimeZone`.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
    Returns:
      The parsed `Calendar` if valid or `null` if invalid.

  - ### validate

    public Calendar validate(String value, Locale locale)
    Validate/convert a time using the specified `Locale` default `TimeZone`.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `locale` - The locale to use for the time format, system default if null.
    Returns:
      The parsed `Calendar` if valid or `null` if invalid.

  - ### validate

    public Calendar validate(String value, Locale locale, TimeZone timeZone)
    Validate/convert a time using the specified `Locale` and `TimeZone`.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `locale` - The locale to use for the time format, system default if null.
      `timeZone` - The Time Zone used to parse the time, system default if null.
    Returns:
      The parsed `Calendar` if valid or `null` if invalid.

  - ### validate

    public Calendar validate(String value, String pattern)
    Validate/convert a time using the specified pattern and default `TimeZone`.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `pattern` - The pattern used to validate the value against.
    Returns:
      The parsed `Calendar` if valid or `null` if invalid.

  - ### validate

    public Calendar validate(String value, String pattern, Locale locale)
    Validate/convert a time using the specified pattern and `Locale` and the default `TimeZone`.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `pattern` - The pattern used to validate the value against, or the default for the `Locale` if `null`.
      `locale` - The locale to use for the date format, system default if null.
    Returns:
      The parsed `Calendar` if valid or `null` if invalid.

  - ### validate

    public Calendar validate(String value, String pattern, Locale locale, TimeZone timeZone)
    Validate/convert a time using the specified pattern, `Locale` and `TimeZone`.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `pattern` - The pattern used to validate the value against, or the default for the `Locale` if `null`.
      `locale` - The locale to use for the date format, system default if null.
      `timeZone` - The Time Zone used to parse the date, system default if null.
    Returns:
      The parsed `Calendar` if valid or `null` if invalid.

  - ### validate

    public Calendar validate(String value, String pattern, TimeZone timeZone)
    Validate/convert a time using the specified pattern and `TimeZone`.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `pattern` - The pattern used to validate the value against.
      `timeZone` - The Time Zone used to parse the time, system default if null.
    Returns:
      The parsed `Calendar` if valid or `null` if invalid.

  - ### validate

    public Calendar validate(String value, TimeZone timeZone)
    Validate/convert a time using the specified `TimeZone` and default `Locale`.
    Parameters:
      `value` - The value validation is being performed on.
      `timeZone` - The Time Zone used to parse the time, system default if null.
    Returns:
      The parsed `Calendar` if valid or `null` if invalid.