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# RelativeDateTimeFormatter

A formatter that creates locale-aware string representations of a relative date or time.

```
class RelativeDateTimeFormatter
```

## Overview

Use the strings that the formatter produces, such as “1 hour ago”, “in 2 weeks”, “yesterday”, and “tomorrow” as standalone strings. Embedding them in other strings may not be grammatically correct.

## Topics

### Converting Dates to Formatted Strings

[`localizedString(for:relativeTo:)`](/documentation/Foundation/RelativeDateTimeFormatter/localizedString(for:relativeTo:))

Formats the date interval from the reference date to the specified date using the formatter’s calendar.

[`localizedString(from:)`](/documentation/Foundation/RelativeDateTimeFormatter/localizedString(from:))

Formats a relative time represented by the specified date components.

[`localizedString(fromTimeInterval:)`](/documentation/Foundation/RelativeDateTimeFormatter/localizedString(fromTimeInterval:))

Formats the specified time interval using the formatter’s calendar.

[`string(for:)`](/documentation/Foundation/RelativeDateTimeFormatter/string(for:))

Creates a formatted string for a date relative to the current date and time.

### Configuring Formatter Options

[`calendar`](/documentation/Foundation/RelativeDateTimeFormatter/calendar)

The calendar to use for formatting values that don’t have an inherent calendar of their own.

[`locale`](/documentation/Foundation/RelativeDateTimeFormatter/locale)

The locale to use when formatting the date.

[`dateTimeStyle`](/documentation/Foundation/RelativeDateTimeFormatter/dateTimeStyle-swift.property)

The style to use when describing a relative date, for example “yesterday” or “1 day ago”.

[`RelativeDateTimeFormatter.DateTimeStyle`](/documentation/Foundation/RelativeDateTimeFormatter/DateTimeStyle-swift.enum)

A type that represents the style to use when formatting relative dates, such as “1 week ago” or “last week”.

[`unitsStyle`](/documentation/Foundation/RelativeDateTimeFormatter/unitsStyle-swift.property)

The style to use when formatting the quantity or the name of the unit, such as “1 day ago” or “one day ago”.

[`RelativeDateTimeFormatter.UnitsStyle`](/documentation/Foundation/RelativeDateTimeFormatter/UnitsStyle-swift.enum)

A type that represents the style to use when formatting the units of relative dates.

[`formattingContext`](/documentation/Foundation/RelativeDateTimeFormatter/formattingContext)

A description of where the formatted string will appear, allowing the formatter to capitalize the output appropriately.


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