java - How to parse dates with SimpleDateFormat using Regex -

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• how parse dates in multiple formats using simpledateformat 7 answers

in java can use simpledateformat parse date below:

simpledateformat sdf = new simpledateformat("mm/dd/yyyy"); date d = sdf.parse("12/21/2012"); //matched december 21, 2012 

but if our date changes

date d = sdf.parse("12-21-2012"); //parseexception!! 

is there easy way expand functionality sets of numbers intermixing regex? in other words, don't care delimiter(s) long format matches. e.g:

simpledateformat sdf = new simpledateformat("mm[^0-9]dd[^0-9]yyyy"); date d = sdf.parse("12/21/2012"); //matched december 21, 2012 date d = sdf.parse("12-21-2012"); //matched december 21, 2012 

you cannot use java.text.simpledateformat generic format. need have defined format when want parse or format java.util.date.