Dates and Times in .NET 2 from Pluralsight

Learn the fundamentals and master the art of working with dates and times in .NET; a topic commonly taken for granted, but often the cause of unexpected errors. This course will make you comfortable working with dates and times in any .NET project!

Ever had issues caused by date and times with .NET within your applications? In this course, Dates and Times in .NET 2, you will master the art of parsing dates and times and how to handle ambiguity using common standards that usually get overlooked and cause unexpected errors. First, you will learn how to handle relative time and time periods, such as calculating the time difference between two periods. Next, you will discover how time zones impact applications, how to properly handle them, and what to consider when parsing dates which don’t include time zone information. Finally, you will explore best practices, and how to avoid problems when working with common date and time scenarios in .NET. When you are finished with this course, you will have the skills and knowledge to set up your own applications and parse complex date and time situations whether you’re on Windows, Mac, or Linux!

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Date and Time Fundamentals

Date and Time Arithmetic

Solutions to Common Data/Time Scenarios in .NET

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Course title reflects common module of many higher-level computer science coursework

Introduces relative time and time periods

Covers essential topics and skills for working with date and time in .NET projects

Taught by Filip Ekberg, an established expert in date and time handling in .NET

May require some prior familiarity with .NET

Reviews summary

Mastering .net date and time fundamentals

According to learners, "Dates and Times in .NET 2" is a highly practical and clarifying course, consistently praised for its ability to demystify complex date and time concepts in .NET. Students highlight the instructor's clear explanations and effective demos, making topics like DateTimeOffset, time zone conversions, and parsing ambiguous strings much more understandable. While some earlier reviews indicated concerns about outdated content or a basic approach for advanced users, recent feedback emphasizes its continued relevance and status as an essential skill-builder for both intermediate and experienced developers aiming to master common scenarios and avoid pitfalls.

Older concerns about outdated content are countered by recent reviews affirming its continued utility.

"Honestly, I found parts of this confusing. I also felt some content was slightly dated, or at least didn't fully embrace modern .NET Core paradigms."

"It referenced older .NET versions frequently. Not worth the time for an experienced developer."

"I've been a .NET developer for years, and I still learned so many new best practices... The course cleared up a lot of misconceptions."

Considered a must-have course for .NET developers to master fundamental date and time handling.

"Highly recommend for any .NET developer looking to master this often-overlooked area. It's truly a must-have skill."

"This course is a lifesaver! I was struggling with an application that had global users and different time zones, and this course provided all the answers."

"It really hammers home the importance of correct date and time handling, especially with internationalization in mind."

Provides exceptionally clear explanations and practical solutions for common date/time challenges.

"The instructor broke it down perfectly. The demos were clear and concise, making complex concepts easy to grasp."

"The information on parsing ambiguous date strings was exactly what I needed. Very practical and directly applicable to my work."

"I still learned so many new best practices and nuances about DateTime, DateTimeOffset, and TimeSpan. The instructor's approach to explaining time zones was brilliant."

While providing a solid foundation, some advanced learners desired more in-depth coverage or comparisons.

"Some parts could delve a bit deeper into performance considerations for high-volume applications."

"A bit basic for my advanced needs, but a solid foundation for those new to date/time handling in .NET. I was hoping for more advanced patterns."

"Didn't offer the depth I was looking for. I already knew most of this. Not worth the time for an experienced developer."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Dates and Times in .NET 2 with these activities:

Organize Course Materials

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Stay organized by compiling notes, assignments, and other course materials to help you effectively review and reinforce the concepts covered in this course.

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Create a dedicated folder or notebook for course materials.
File lecture notes, assignments, and other handouts in the designated location.
Organize materials based on topic or module.
Review and revisit materials regularly to enhance retention.

Review C# Fundamentals

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Ensure a strong foundation by refreshing your knowledge of C# fundamentals before diving into the complexities of date and time handling in .NET.

Browse courses on .Net Core

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Review online tutorials or documentation on C# basics.
Practice writing simple C# programs.
Focus on data types, variables, and control flow.
Test your understanding through practice exercises.

Follow Date and Time Tutorials

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Supplement your understanding of the core concepts by exploring beginner-friendly tutorials on dates and times in .NET.

Browse courses on Date and Time

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Identify trusted tutorials from reputable sources like Microsoft Docs or Pluralsight.
Follow the tutorials step-by-step to practice working with dates and times.
Experiment with different scenarios to solidify your comprehension.

Four other activities

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Discuss Date and Time Scenarios

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Collaborate with peers to discuss real-world challenges and share strategies for handling complex date and time scenarios in .NET.

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Join online forums or study groups.
Participate in discussions related to date and time handling in .NET.
Share your experiences and learn from others.
Seek assistance with specific challenges you may encounter.

Explore Time Zone Conversion Best Practices

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Delve into best practices for handling time zone conversions in .NET to ensure accurate and reliable date and time calculations.

Browse courses on Best Practices

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Review online articles or documentation on time zone conversion in .NET.
Understand the concept of UTC and local time.
Learn about the DateTimeOffset and TimeZoneInfo classes.
Follow examples to convert dates and times between different time zones.

Solve Date and Time Challenges

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Sharpen your skills by tackling hands-on challenges that test your ability to handle complex date and time scenarios.

Browse courses on Data Manipulation

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Find online platforms or textbooks with date and time exercises.
Attempt to solve the challenges on your own.
Compare your solutions with provided answers to identify areas for improvement.
Repeat the process with various challenges to enhance your mastery.

Build a Date and Time Converter

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Solidify your understanding by building a practical tool that allows users to convert dates and times between different formats.

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Design the user interface of the converter.
Implement the conversion logic using .NET classes.
Handle edge cases and invalid inputs.
Test the converter thoroughly to ensure accuracy.

Career center

Learners who complete Dates and Times in .NET 2 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst processes and analyzes data to find patterns and trends to help organizations make informed decisions. This course may be useful for Data Analysts as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for analyzing data accurately. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Database Administrator

A Database Administrator manages and maintains databases to ensure that they are running smoothly and efficiently. This course may be useful for Database Administrators as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for managing databases effectively. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Software Developer

A Software Developer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This course may be useful for Software Developers as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for developing software applications that handle dates and times accurately. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Web Developer

A Web Developer designs, develops, and maintains websites and web applications. This course may be useful for Web Developers as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for developing web applications that handle dates and times accurately. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst analyzes business needs and processes to identify areas for improvement. This course may be useful for Business Analysts as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for analyzing business data accurately. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Financial Analyst

A Financial Analyst provides financial advice to individuals and organizations. This course may be useful for Financial Analysts as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for analyzing financial data accurately. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Project Manager

A Project Manager plans, executes, and closes projects. This course may be useful for Project Managers as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for managing projects effectively. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

IT Manager

An IT Manager plans, implements, and manages IT systems and services. This course may be useful for IT Managers as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for managing IT systems and services effectively. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager

Database Engineer

A Database Engineer designs, develops, and maintains databases. This course may be useful for Database Engineers as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for designing and developing databases effectively. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Engineer

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist uses data to solve business problems. This course may be useful for Data Scientists as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for analyzing data accurately. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software systems. This course may be useful for Software Engineers as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for developing software systems that handle dates and times accurately. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Systems Analyst

A Systems Analyst analyzes business needs and processes to identify areas for improvement. This course may be useful for Systems Analysts as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for analyzing business data accurately. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst protects an organization's computer systems and networks from unauthorized access and damage. This course may be useful for Information Security Analysts as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for analyzing security data accurately. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Network Administrator

A Network Administrator manages and maintains computer networks. This course may be useful for Network Administrators as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for managing networks effectively. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Administrator

Computer Systems Analyst

A Computer Systems Analyst analyzes, designs, and implements computer systems. This course may be useful for Computer Systems Analysts as it provides a strong foundation in working with dates and times, which is essential for analyzing and designing computer systems effectively. The course covers topics such as parsing dates and times from various sources, handling relative time and time periods, and working with time zones.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Systems Analyst