Clock (Java Platform SE 8 )
Keywords: java.time.Clock class
Date: 2026-04-17

compact1, compact2, compact3
java.time

## Class Clock

- java.lang.Object
- - java.time.Clock

-     public abstract class Clock
      extends Object

  A clock providing access to the current instant, date and time using a time-zone.

  Instances of this class are used to find the current instant, which can be interpreted using the stored time-zone to find the current date and time. As such, a clock can be used instead of `System.currentTimeMillis()` and `TimeZone.getDefault()`.

  Use of a `Clock` is optional. All key date-time classes also have a `now()` factory method that uses the system clock in the default time zone. The primary purpose of this abstraction is to allow alternate clocks to be plugged in as and when required. Applications use an object to obtain the current time rather than a static method. This can simplify testing.

  Best practice for applications is to pass a `Clock` into any method that requires the current instant. A dependency injection framework is one way to achieve this:

        public class MyBean {
          private Clock clock;  // dependency inject
          ...
          public void process(LocalDate eventDate) {
            if (eventDate.isBefore(LocalDate.now(clock)) {
              ...
            }
          }
        }

  This approach allows an alternate clock, such as `fixed` or `offset` to be used during testing.

  The `system` factory methods provide clocks based on the best available system clock This may use `System.currentTimeMillis()`, or a higher resolution clock if one is available.

  Implementation Requirements:
    This abstract class must be implemented with care to ensure other classes operate correctly. All implementations that can be instantiated must be final, immutable and thread-safe.

    The principal methods are defined to allow the throwing of an exception. In normal use, no exceptions will be thrown, however one possible implementation would be to obtain the time from a central time server across the network. Obviously, in this case the lookup could fail, and so the method is permitted to throw an exception.

    The returned instants from `Clock` work on a time-scale that ignores leap seconds, as described in `Instant`. If the implementation wraps a source that provides leap second information, then a mechanism should be used to "smooth" the leap second. The Java Time-Scale mandates the use of UTC-SLS, however clock implementations may choose how accurate they are with the time-scale so long as they document how they work. Implementations are therefore not required to actually perform the UTC-SLS slew or to otherwise be aware of leap seconds.

    Implementations should implement `Serializable` wherever possible and must document whether or not they do support serialization.

  Implementation Note:
    The clock implementation provided here is based on `System.currentTimeMillis()`. That method provides little to no guarantee about the accuracy of the clock. Applications requiring a more accurate clock must implement this abstract class themselves using a different external clock, such as an NTP server.
  Since:
    1.8

- - ### Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Modifier | Constructor and Description
    --- | ---
    `protected` | `Clock()` Constructor accessible by subclasses.

  - ### Method Summary

    All Methods Static Methods Instance Methods Abstract Methods Concrete Methods
    Modifier and Type | Method and Description
    --- | ---
    `boolean` | `equals(Object obj)` Checks if this clock is equal to another clock.
    `static Clock` | `fixed(Instant fixedInstant, ZoneId zone)` Obtains a clock that always returns the same instant.
    `abstract ZoneId` | `getZone()` Gets the time-zone being used to create dates and times.
    `int` | `hashCode()` A hash code for this clock.
    `abstract Instant` | `instant()` Gets the current instant of the clock.
    `long` | `millis()` Gets the current millisecond instant of the clock.
    `static Clock` | `offset(Clock baseClock, Duration offsetDuration)` Obtains a clock that returns instants from the specified clock with the specified duration added
    `static Clock` | `system(ZoneId zone)` Obtains a clock that returns the current instant using best available system clock.
    `static Clock` | `systemDefaultZone()` Obtains a clock that returns the current instant using the best available system clock, converting to date and time using the default time-zone.
    `static Clock` | `systemUTC()` Obtains a clock that returns the current instant using the best available system clock, converting to date and time using the UTC time-zone.
    `static Clock` | `tick(Clock baseClock, Duration tickDuration)` Obtains a clock that returns instants from the specified clock truncated to the nearest occurrence of the specified duration.
    `static Clock` | `tickMinutes(ZoneId zone)` Obtains a clock that returns the current instant ticking in whole minutes using best available system clock.
    `static Clock` | `tickSeconds(ZoneId zone)` Obtains a clock that returns the current instant ticking in whole seconds using best available system clock.
    `abstract Clock` | `withZone(ZoneId zone)` Returns a copy of this clock with a different time-zone.

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

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

- - ### Constructor Detail

    - #### Clock

          protected Clock()

      Constructor accessible by subclasses.

  - ### Method Detail

    - #### systemUTC

          public static Clock systemUTC()

      Obtains a clock that returns the current instant using the best available system clock, converting to date and time using the UTC time-zone.

      This clock, rather than `systemDefaultZone()`, should be used when you need the current instant without the date or time.

      This clock is based on the best available system clock. This may use `System.currentTimeMillis()`, or a higher resolution clock if one is available.

      Conversion from instant to date or time uses the UTC time-zone.

      The returned implementation is immutable, thread-safe and `Serializable`. It is equivalent to `system(ZoneOffset.UTC)`.

      Returns:
        a clock that uses the best available system clock in the UTC zone, not null

    - #### systemDefaultZone

          public static Clock systemDefaultZone()

      Obtains a clock that returns the current instant using the best available system clock, converting to date and time using the default time-zone.

      This clock is based on the best available system clock. This may use `System.currentTimeMillis()`, or a higher resolution clock if one is available.

      Using this method hard codes a dependency to the default time-zone into your application. It is recommended to avoid this and use a specific time-zone whenever possible. The `UTC clock` should be used when you need the current instant without the date or time.

      The returned implementation is immutable, thread-safe and `Serializable`. It is equivalent to `system(ZoneId.systemDefault())`.

      Returns:
        a clock that uses the best available system clock in the default zone, not null
      See Also:
        `ZoneId.systemDefault()`

    - #### system

          public static Clock system(ZoneId zone)

      Obtains a clock that returns the current instant using best available system clock.

      This clock is based on the best available system clock. This may use `System.currentTimeMillis()`, or a higher resolution clock if one is available.

      Conversion from instant to date or time uses the specified time-zone.

      The returned implementation is immutable, thread-safe and `Serializable`.

      Parameters:
        `zone` - the time-zone to use to convert the instant to date-time, not null
      Returns:
        a clock that uses the best available system clock in the specified zone, not null

    - #### tickSeconds

          public static Clock tickSeconds(ZoneId zone)

      Obtains a clock that returns the current instant ticking in whole seconds using best available system clock.

      This clock will always have the nano-of-second field set to zero. This ensures that the visible time ticks in whole seconds. The underlying clock is the best available system clock, equivalent to using `system(ZoneId)`.

      Implementations may use a caching strategy for performance reasons. As such, it is possible that the start of the second observed via this clock will be later than that observed directly via the underlying clock.

      The returned implementation is immutable, thread-safe and `Serializable`. It is equivalent to `tick(system(zone), Duration.ofSeconds(1))`.

      Parameters:
        `zone` - the time-zone to use to convert the instant to date-time, not null
      Returns:
        a clock that ticks in whole seconds using the specified zone, not null

    - #### tickMinutes

          public static Clock tickMinutes(ZoneId zone)

      Obtains a clock that returns the current instant ticking in whole minutes using best available system clock.

      This clock will always have the nano-of-second and second-of-minute fields set to zero. This ensures that the visible time ticks in whole minutes. The underlying clock is the best available system clock, equivalent to using `system(ZoneId)`.

      Implementations may use a caching strategy for performance reasons. As such, it is possible that the start of the minute observed via this clock will be later than that observed directly via the underlying clock.

      The returned implementation is immutable, thread-safe and `Serializable`. It is equivalent to `tick(system(zone), Duration.ofMinutes(1))`.

      Parameters:
        `zone` - the time-zone to use to convert the instant to date-time, not null
      Returns:
        a clock that ticks in whole minutes using the specified zone, not null

    - #### tick

          public static Clock tick(Clock baseClock,
                                   Duration tickDuration)

      Obtains a clock that returns instants from the specified clock truncated to the nearest occurrence of the specified duration.

      This clock will only tick as per the specified duration. Thus, if the duration is half a second, the clock will return instants truncated to the half second.

      The tick duration must be positive. If it has a part smaller than a whole millisecond, then the whole duration must divide into one second without leaving a remainder. All normal tick durations will match these criteria, including any multiple of hours, minutes, seconds and milliseconds, and sensible nanosecond durations, such as 20ns, 250,000ns and 500,000ns.

      A duration of zero or one nanosecond would have no truncation effect. Passing one of these will return the underlying clock.

      Implementations may use a caching strategy for performance reasons. As such, it is possible that the start of the requested duration observed via this clock will be later than that observed directly via the underlying clock.

      The returned implementation is immutable, thread-safe and `Serializable` providing that the base clock is.

      Parameters:
        `baseClock` - the base clock to base the ticking clock on, not null
        `tickDuration` - the duration of each visible tick, not negative, not null
      Returns:
        a clock that ticks in whole units of the duration, not null
      Throws:
        `IllegalArgumentException` - if the duration is negative, or has a part smaller than a whole millisecond such that the whole duration is not divisible into one second
        `ArithmeticException` - if the duration is too large to be represented as nanos

    - #### fixed

          public static Clock fixed(Instant fixedInstant,
                                    ZoneId zone)

      Obtains a clock that always returns the same instant.

      This clock simply returns the specified instant. As such, it is not a clock in the conventional sense. The main use case for this is in testing, where the fixed clock ensures tests are not dependent on the current clock.

      The returned implementation is immutable, thread-safe and `Serializable`.

      Parameters:
        `fixedInstant` - the instant to use as the clock, not null
        `zone` - the time-zone to use to convert the instant to date-time, not null
      Returns:
        a clock that always returns the same instant, not null

    - #### offset

          public static Clock offset(Clock baseClock,
                                     Duration offsetDuration)

      Obtains a clock that returns instants from the specified clock with the specified duration added

      This clock wraps another clock, returning instants that are later by the specified duration. If the duration is negative, the instants will be earlier than the current date and time. The main use case for this is to simulate running in the future or in the past.

      A duration of zero would have no offsetting effect. Passing zero will return the underlying clock.

      The returned implementation is immutable, thread-safe and `Serializable` providing that the base clock is.

      Parameters:
        `baseClock` - the base clock to add the duration to, not null
        `offsetDuration` - the duration to add, not null
      Returns:
        a clock based on the base clock with the duration added, not null

    - #### getZone

          public abstract ZoneId getZone()

      Gets the time-zone being used to create dates and times.

      A clock will typically obtain the current instant and then convert that to a date or time using a time-zone. This method returns the time-zone used.

      Returns:
        the time-zone being used to interpret instants, not null

    - #### withZone

          public abstract Clock withZone(ZoneId zone)

      Returns a copy of this clock with a different time-zone.

      A clock will typically obtain the current instant and then convert that to a date or time using a time-zone. This method returns a clock with similar properties but using a different time-zone.

      Parameters:
        `zone` - the time-zone to change to, not null
      Returns:
        a clock based on this clock with the specified time-zone, not null

    - #### millis

          public long millis()

      Gets the current millisecond instant of the clock.

      This returns the millisecond-based instant, measured from 1970-01-01T00:00Z (UTC). This is equivalent to the definition of `System.currentTimeMillis()`.

      Most applications should avoid this method and use `Instant` to represent an instant on the time-line rather than a raw millisecond value. This method is provided to allow the use of the clock in high performance use cases where the creation of an object would be unacceptable.

      The default implementation currently calls `instant()`.

      Returns:
        the current millisecond instant from this clock, measured from the Java epoch of 1970-01-01T00:00Z (UTC), not null
      Throws:
        `DateTimeException` - if the instant cannot be obtained, not thrown by most implementations

    - #### instant

          public abstract Instant instant()

      Gets the current instant of the clock.

      This returns an instant representing the current instant as defined by the clock.

      Returns:
        the current instant from this clock, not null
      Throws:
        `DateTimeException` - if the instant cannot be obtained, not thrown by most implementations

    - #### equals

          public boolean equals(Object obj)

      Checks if this clock is equal to another clock.

      Clocks should override this method to compare equals based on their state and to meet the contract of `Object.equals(java.lang.Object)`. If not overridden, the behavior is defined by `Object.equals(java.lang.Object)`

      Overrides:
        `equals` in class `Object`
      Parameters:
        `obj` - the object to check, null returns false
      Returns:
        true if this is equal to the other clock
      See Also:
        `Object.hashCode()`, `HashMap`

    - #### hashCode

          public int hashCode()

      A hash code for this clock.

      Clocks should override this method based on their state and to meet the contract of `Object.hashCode()`. If not overridden, the behavior is defined by `Object.hashCode()`

      Overrides:
        `hashCode` in class `Object`
      Returns:
        a suitable hash code
      See Also:
        `Object.equals(java.lang.Object)`, `System.identityHashCode(java.lang.Object)`

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