What is the most user friendly dateformat? [closed]

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What is - from a usability point of view - the best way to format dates?

Should I rather use absolute dates like:

• 05.07.2011
• 07/05/2011

or would it be better to print dates relative to the current time:

• one week ago
• last Monday
• yesterday

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The relative dates are in my opinion the most user friendly for the following reasons:

• It doesn't depend on the users locale
• You dont have to think about how old the post is. In principle you have to calculate if its absolute

I like the phrases, but I think it'll only work for dates <= one week ago. You don't wont "1 month three weeks and 2 days ago"

Well, you dont have to be that precise. But of cause it depends what the purpose is. If its just comments on a blog the 2 days would not matter.

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As with all questions relating to the "best" way to do something there are no absolutes.

It will depend on how the dates are being used.

The only way to test what's best for your users is to ask them. That's one of the reasons for usability testing.