Convert dateTime to ISO format yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss in C# [duplicate]

Is there a standard way in .NET/C# to convert a datetime object to ISO 8601 format yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss?

Or do I need to do some string manipulation to get the date string?

Solution 1:

To use the strict ISO8601, you can use the s (Sortable) format string:

 myDate.ToString("s"); // example 2009-06-15T13:45:30

It's a short-hand to this custom format string:

myDate.ToString("yyyy'-'MM'-'dd'T'HH':'mm':'ss");

And of course, you can build your own custom format strings.

More info:

• Standard Date and Time format strings
• Custom Date and Time Format Strings

Solution 2:

There is no standard format for the readable 8601 format. You can use a custom format:

theDate.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd HH':'mm':'ss")

(The standard format "s" will give you a "T" between the date and the time, not a space.)

Solution 3:

To add a little bit more information that confused me; I had always thought the same result could be achieved like so;

theDate.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss")

However, If your Current Culture doesn't use a colon(:) as the hour separator, and instead uses a full-stop(.) it could return as follow:

2009-06-15 13.45.30

Just wanted to add why the answer provided needs to be as it is;

theDate.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd HH':'mm':'ss")

:-)