How Can I Get the Current Short DateTime Format in C#?

Question

How do I get the sort DateTime format of the local system, in string format, using C#?

For example: dd/MM/yyyy or MM/dd/YYYY

Answer 1

Try this:

using System.Globalization;

...
...
...

var myDTFI = CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.DateTimeFormat;

var result = myDTFI.FullDateTimePattern;

Answer 2

Overkill but should do it:

CultureInfo info = null;

var thread = new Thread(() => {
    info = Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture;
    return;
});

thread.Start();
thread.Join();

// info.DateTimeFormat.ShortDatePattern

Based on the fact that new threads should inherit the standard culture of the system (I consider it a missing feature: it's nearly impossible to control the culture of new threads, read here Is there a way of setting culture for a whole application? All current threads and new threads?). I'm not directly using Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture because someone could have messed with it :-)