The java.util.Date.after() method is used to check whether the current instance of the date is after the specified date.

Syntax:

dateObject.after(Date specifiedDate)
Parameter: It takes only one parameter specifiedDate of data type Date. This is the date which is to be checked in comparison to the instance of the date calling the function.

Return Value: The return type of this function is boolean. It returns true if current instance of the date is strictly larger than the specifiedDate. Otherwise it returns false.

Exceptions: If the specifiedDate is null, this method will throw NullPointerException when called upon.

Below programs illustrate after() method in Date class:

Program 1:

// Java code to demonstrate
// after() function of Date class

import java.util.Date;
import java.util.Calendar;
public class P_AI {
// main method
public static void main(String[] args)
{

// creating a Calendar object
Calendar c = Calendar.getInstance();

// set Month
// MONTH starts with 0 i.e. ( 0 - Jan)
c.set(Calendar.MONTH, 11);

// set Date
c.set(Calendar.DATE, 05);

// set Year
c.set(Calendar.YEAR, 1996);

// creating a date object with specified time.
Date dateOne = c.getTime();

// creating a date of object
// storing the current date
Date currentDate = new Date();

System.out.print("Is currentDate after date one : ");

// if currentDate is after dateOne
System.out.println(currentDate.after(dateOne));
}
}
Output:
Is currentDate after date one : true
Program 2: To demonstrate java.lang.NullPointerException

// Java code to demonstrate
// after() function of Date class

import java.util.Date;

public class P_AI {
// main method
public static void main(String[] args)
{

// creating a date of object
// storing the current date
Date currentDate = new Date();

// specifiedDate is assigned to null.
Date specifiedDate = null;

System.out.println("Passing null as parameter : ");
try {
// throws NullPointerException
System.out.println(currentDate.after(specifiedDate));
}
catch (Exception e) {
System.out.println("Exception: " + e);
}
}
}
Output:
Passing null as parameter :
Exception: java.lang.NullPointerException