---
title: "CFDateFormatterCreate(_:_:_:_:)"
framework: corefoundation
role: symbol
role_heading: Function
path: "corefoundation/cfdateformattercreate(_:_:_:_:)"
---

# CFDateFormatterCreate(_:_:_:_:)

Creates a new CFDateFormatter object, localized to the given locale, which will format dates to the given date and time styles.

## Declaration

```swift
func CFDateFormatterCreate(_ allocator: CFAllocator!, _ locale: CFLocale!, _ dateStyle: CFDateFormatterStyle, _ timeStyle: CFDateFormatterStyle) -> CFDateFormatter!
```

## Parameters

- `allocator`: The allocator to use to allocate memory for the new object. Pass NULL or kCFAllocatorDefault to use the current default allocator.
- `locale`: The locale to use for localization. If NULL uses the default system local. Use doc://com.apple.corefoundation/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFLocaleCopyCurrent() to specify the locale of the current user.
- `dateStyle`: The date style to use when formatting dates. See doc://com.apple.corefoundation/documentation/CoreFoundation/date_formatter_styles for possible values.
- `timeStyle`: The time style to use when formatting times. See doc://com.apple.corefoundation/documentation/CoreFoundation/date_formatter_styles for possible values.

## Return Value

Return Value A new date formatter, localized to the given locale, which will format dates to the given date and time styles. Returns NULL if there was a problem creating the object. Ownership follows the The Create Rule.

## Discussion

Discussion You can use kCFDateFormatterNoStyle to suppress output for the date or time. The following code fragment illustrates the creation and use of a date formatter that only outputs the date information (memory management is omitted for clarity). CFLocaleRef locale = CFLocaleCreate(kCFAllocatorDefault, CFSTR("en_GB"));   CFDateFormatterRef formatter = CFDateFormatterCreate(         kCFAllocatorDefault, locale, kCFDateFormatterMediumStyle, kCFDateFormatterNoStyle);   CFDateRef date = CFDateCreate(kCFAllocatorDefault, 123456); CFStringRef dateAsString = CFDateFormatterCreateStringWithDate (         kCFAllocatorDefault, formatter, date);   CFShow(dateAsString); // outputs "2 Jan 2001"