Locale.Category (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: java.util.Locale.Category class
Date: 2026-04-17

compact1, compact2, compact3
java.util

## Enum Locale.Category

- java.lang.Object
- - java.lang.Enum<Locale.Category>
  - - java.util.Locale.Category

- All Implemented Interfaces:
    Serializable, Comparable<Locale.Category>
  Enclosing class:
    Locale

      public static enum Locale.Category
      extends Enum<Locale.Category>

  Enum for locale categories. These locale categories are used to get/set the default locale for the specific functionality represented by the category.
  Since:
    1.7
  See Also:
    `Locale.getDefault(Locale.Category)`, `Locale.setDefault(Locale.Category, Locale)`

- - ### Enum Constant Summary

    Enum Constants
    Enum Constant and Description
    `DISPLAY` Category used to represent the default locale for displaying user interfaces.
    `FORMAT` Category used to represent the default locale for formatting dates, numbers, and/or currencies.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Static Methods Concrete Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `static Locale.Category` | `valueOf(String name)` Returns the enum constant of this type with the specified name.
    `static Locale.Category[]` | `values()` Returns an array containing the constants of this enum type, in the order they are declared.

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Enum

      `clone, compareTo, equals, finalize, getDeclaringClass, hashCode, name, ordinal, toString, valueOf`

    - ### Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

      `getClass, notify, notifyAll, wait, wait, wait`

- - ### Enum Constant Detail

    - #### DISPLAY

          public static final Locale.Category DISPLAY

      Category used to represent the default locale for displaying user interfaces.

    - #### FORMAT

          public static final Locale.Category FORMAT

      Category used to represent the default locale for formatting dates, numbers, and/or currencies.

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### values

          public static Locale.Category[] values()

      Returns an array containing the constants of this enum type, in the order they are declared. This method may be used to iterate over the constants as follows:

          for (Locale.Category c : Locale.Category.values())
              System.out.println(c);

      Returns:
        an array containing the constants of this enum type, in the order they are declared

    - #### valueOf

          public static Locale.Category valueOf(String name)

      Returns the enum constant of this type with the specified name. The string must match exactly an identifier used to declare an enum constant in this type. (Extraneous whitespace characters are not permitted.)
      Parameters:
        `name` - the name of the enum constant to be returned.
      Returns:
        the enum constant with the specified name
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if this enum type has no constant with the specified name
        `NullPointerException` - if the argument is null

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