XSLT Reference

format-time()

XSLT 2.0 date function

Formats an xs:time value into a human-readable string using a picture pattern, with optional locale and calendar support.

Syntax

format-time(time, picture, language?, calendar?, place?)

Description

format-time() converts an xs:time value into a formatted string using the same picture pattern syntax used by format-date() and format-dateTime(). Picture components are enclosed in square brackets.

Common time specifiers:

Specifier	Meaning
`[H]`	Hour, 24-hour clock (0–23)
`[h]`	Hour, 12-hour clock (1–12)
`[m]`	Minute (0–59)
`[s]`	Second (0–59)
`[f]`	Fractional seconds
`[P]`	AM/PM marker

Width modifiers like [H01] add zero-padding (e.g., 07 instead of 7).

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`time`	xs:time?	Yes	The time value to format. Returns an empty string for the empty sequence.
`picture`	xs:string	Yes	The picture pattern controlling the output format.
`language`	xs:string?	No	BCP 47 language tag (e.g., `"en"`, `"fr"`).
`calendar`	xs:string?	No	Calendar system identifier. Implementation-defined.
`place`	xs:string?	No	Place or timezone identifier. Implementation-defined.

Return value

xs:string — the formatted time string, or an empty string if time is the empty sequence.

Examples

Format appointment times

Input XML:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<schedule>
  <appointment time="09:30:00">Team standup</appointment>
  <appointment time="14:00:00">Client call</appointment>
</schedule>

Stylesheet:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xsl:stylesheet version="2.0"
  xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform"
  xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <xsl:output method="xml" indent="yes"/>

  <xsl:template match="/schedule">
    <schedule>
      <xsl:for-each select="appointment">
        <appointment display="{format-time(xs:time(@time), '[h]:[m01] [P]')}">
          <xsl:value-of select="."/>
        </appointment>
      </xsl:for-each>
    </schedule>
  </xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>

Output:

<schedule>
  <appointment display="9:30 am">Team standup</appointment>
  <appointment display="2:00 pm">Client call</appointment>
</schedule>

Format the current time as HH:MM:SS

Stylesheet:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xsl:stylesheet version="2.0"
  xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform">
  <xsl:output method="text"/>

  <xsl:template match="/">
    <xsl:value-of select="format-time(current-time(), '[H01]:[m01]:[s01]')"/>
  </xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>

Output (example):

14:32:07

Notes

The input must be an xs:time value, not a plain string. Cast with xs:time(@attr).
Picture syntax is specific to XPath 2.0 and differs from Java SimpleDateFormat or POSIX strftime.
Language support for AM/PM markers and other named components varies by processor.