# CFDate ``` class CFDate ``` ## Overview `CFDate` objects store dates and times that can be compared to other dates and times. `CFDate` objects are immutable—there is no mutable counterpart for this opaque type. `CFDate` provides functions for creating dates, comparing dates, and computing intervals. You use the [`CFDateCreate(_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFDateCreate(_:_:)) function to create `CFDate` objects. You use the [`CFDateCompare(_:_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFDateCompare(_:_:_:)) function to compare two dates, and the [`CFDateGetTimeIntervalSinceDate(_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFDateGetTimeIntervalSinceDate(_:_:)) function to compute a time interval. Additional functions for managing dates and times are described in [Time Utilities](/documentation/CoreFoundation/time-utilities) `CFDate` is “toll-free bridged” with its Cocoa Foundation counterpart, . What this means is that the Core Foundation type is interchangeable in function or method calls with the bridged Foundation object. In other words, in a method where you see an `NSDate *` parameter, you can pass in a `CFDateRef`, and in a function where you see a `CFDateRef` parameter, you can pass in an `NSDate` instance. This also applies to concrete subclasses of `NSDate`. See Interchangeable Data Types for more information on toll-free bridging. ## Topics ### CFDate Miscellaneous Functions [`CFDateCompare(_:_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFDateCompare(_:_:_:)) Compares two `CFDate` objects and returns a comparison result. [`CFDateCreate(_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFDateCreate(_:_:)) Creates a `CFDate` object given an absolute time. [`CFDateGetAbsoluteTime(_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFDateGetAbsoluteTime(_:)) Returns a `CFDate` object’s absolute time. [`CFDateGetTimeIntervalSinceDate(_:_:)`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFDateGetTimeIntervalSinceDate(_:_:)) Returns the number of elapsed seconds between the given `CFDate` objects. [`CFDateGetTypeID()`](/documentation/CoreFoundation/CFDateGetTypeID()) Returns the type identifier for the `CFDate` opaque type. ## See Also [Property List Programming Topics for Core Foundation](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/CoreFoundation/Conceptual/CFPropertyLists/CFPropertyLists.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/10000130i) [Date and Time Programming Guide for Core Foundation](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/CoreFoundation/Conceptual/CFDatesAndTimes/CFDatesAndTimes.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/10000125i) --- Copyright © 2026 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. | [Terms of Use](https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/terms/site.html) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/privacy/privacy-policy)