In Java, what is the fastest way to get the system time?

user_734984 0
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I'm developing a system that often use the system time because the Delayed interface.

What is fastet way to get the time from system?

Currently I'm using Calendar.getInstance().getTimeInMillis() every time I need to get the time, but I don't know if there is a faster way.

calendar time java
7 Answers

System.currentTimeMillis() is fastest as per below test case

public class ClassTest
{
    @Test
    public void testSystemCurrentTime()
    {
        final Stopwatch stopwatch = Stopwatch.createStarted();
        for (int i = 0; i < 1_00_000; i++)
        {
            System.currentTimeMillis();
        }
        stopwatch.stop();
        System.out.println("System.currentTimeMillis(): " + stopwatch);
    }

    @Test
    public void testDateTime()
    {
        final Stopwatch stopwatch = Stopwatch.createStarted();
        for (int i = 0; i < 1_00_000; i++)
        {
            (new Date()).getTime();
        }
        stopwatch.stop();
        System.out.println("(new Date()).getTime(): " + stopwatch);
    }

    @Test
    public void testCalendarTime()
    {
        final Stopwatch stopwatch = Stopwatch.createStarted();
        for (int i = 0; i < 1_00_000; i++)
        {
            Calendar.getInstance().getTimeInMillis();
        }
        stopwatch.stop();
        System.out.println("Calendar.getInstance().getTimeInMillis(): " + stopwatch);
    }

    @Test
    public void testInstantNow()
    {
        final Stopwatch stopwatch = Stopwatch.createStarted();
        for (int i = 0; i < 1_00_000; i++)
        {
            Instant.now();
        }
        stopwatch.stop();
        System.out.println("Instant.now(): " + stopwatch);
    }
}

Output:

(new Date()).getTime(): 36.89 ms
Calendar.getInstance().getTimeInMillis(): 448.0 ms
Instant.now(): 34.13 ms
System.currentTimeMillis(): 10.28 ms

But,

Instant.now() is fast + simpler and provides other utility as well like Instant.now().getEpochSecond();,Instant.now().getNano();, Instant.now().compareTo(otherInstant); and many more.

user_25134920
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