How Can I Reliably Parse Dates with Varying Formats in Java?

Handling Date Parsing with Varying Formats in Java

Introduction:

In Java, parsing strings into dates can be a cumbersome task, especially when dealing with dates in different formats. This article will guide you through a reliable method for parsing dates with varying formats using the SimpleDateFormat class.

Problem:

You're receiving a string representing a date in a specific format (e.g., "dd/MM/yyyy") from a user. However, your application requires the date to be in a different format (e.g., "yyyy-MM-dd").

Solution:

1. Create SimpleDateFormat Objects:

• Create two SimpleDateFormat objects: fromUser and myFormat.
• fromUser specifies the input date format (e.g., "dd/MM/yyyy").
• myFormat specifies the desired output date format (e.g., "yyyy-MM-dd").

2. Parse the Input String:

• Use the fromUser object to parse the input string and obtain a Date object.

3. Reformat the Date:

• Convert the parsed Date object into a String representation using the myFormat object.

Example Code:

SimpleDateFormat fromUser = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/MM/yyyy");
SimpleDateFormat myFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd");

try {
    String inputString = "19/05/2009";
    String reformattedStr = myFormat.format(fromUser.parse(inputString));
    System.out.println(reformattedStr); // Output: 2009-05-19
} catch (ParseException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
}

Handling Exceptions:

If the input string cannot be parsed or reformatted, a ParseException will be thrown. Handle this exception appropriately within your code.

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