Date format checking in Java is the process of verifying whether a given string conforms to a predefined date format pattern. This is essential for ensuring the validity and consistency of date data, especially when working with user input or data from external sources. Java provides several methods and classes for date format checking and conversion.
One of the most common ways to check the date format is using the SimpleDateFormat class. This class allows you to define a date format pattern and then use it to parse a string into a Date object. If the string does not match the specified pattern, a ParseException is thrown. Here’s an example: