Reading input matching exact date pattern YYYY-MM-DD

Question

I have a Java application that reads information about a new user to insert into an SQL database. When the user is to input a new user's date of birth, I want to program to be sure that the user has entered a date that is in the exact format YYYY-MM-DD.

I want to use the Scanner method next(Pattern pattern), but I'm not sure exactly how to create the necessary Pattern for what I'm trying to achieve. Here is what I have so far:

String date [] = null;
    while (date == null) {
        try {
            date = userInput.next(Pattern.compile(*your suggestion here*)).split("-");
        } catch (NoSuchElementException e) {
            System.out.print("Date must be in format YYYY-MM-DD: ");                
            date = null;
            userInput.nextLine();
            continue;
        }
    }

What should I put in *your suggestion here*?

check out http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15491894/regex-to-validate-date-format-dd-mm-yyyy — Astra Bear, Mar 10 '15 at 03:32

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 10 '15 at 03:31

1

Use SimpleDateFormat as a date parser, not a regex.

answered Mar 10 '15 at 03:31

djechlin

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Reading input matching exact date pattern YYYY-MM-DD

1 Answers1