User Input date giving error when parsed to SimpeDateFormat

Question

I am trying to input the date from the user. But the code is giving error at the parse method. The code I am trying is below.

import java.util.*;
import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;

public class date_parse {
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        Scanner input=new Scanner(System.in);
        String s=input.nextLine();
        SimpleDateFormat f= new SimpleDateFormat("dd-MM-yyyy");
        System.out.println(f.parse(s));
    }   
}

NOTE -: The code is running well if I directly provide string format date like "01-01-2000" in place os s in parse method

What error? Post the stacktrace, and show an input that results in an error. — Abhijit Sarkar, Feb 06 '21 at 05:55
I recommend you don’t use `SimpleDateFormat`. That class is notoriously troublesome and long outdated. Instead use `DateTimeFormatter` and other classes from [java.time, the modern Java date and time API](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/datetime/). — Ole V.V., Feb 07 '21 at 15:04
Does this answer your question? [ParseException; must be caught (Try/Catch) (Java)](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/16112676/parseexception-must-be-caught-try-catch-java) — Ole V.V., Feb 07 '21 at 15:06

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 06 '21 at 05:55

First of all you don't name your class like that in Java. Please go through this article to know more about naming conventions in Java. Secondly as Risalat Zaman mentioned the parse method throws ParseException which need to be handled in your code. Try changing your code as follows:

public class DateParse {
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        Scanner input=new Scanner(System.in);
        String s=input.nextLine();
        SimpleDateFormat f= new SimpleDateFormat("dd-MM-yyyy");
        try {
            System.out.println(f.parse(s));
        } catch (ParseException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 06 '21 at 05:51

1

Try it like this

    try{
        SimpleDateFormat f= new SimpleDateFormat("dd-MM-yyyy");
        System.out.println(f.parse(s));     
    }
    catch(Exception e){
        System.out.print("There is an exception");
    }

answered Feb 06 '21 at 05:51

Risalat Zaman

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It’s not a god answer IMHO. First helping people use `SImpleDateFormat`, a class that we should no longer use, is doing a mis-favour. Second, the code works (I think), but the answer does not explain why. Third catching `Exception` is bad style and also not helpful in explaining why it’s being done. – Ole V.V. Feb 07 '21 at 19:09
Could you enlighten me as to why we should not use SimpleDateFormat please – Risalat Zaman Feb 08 '21 at 12:53
1

Thanks for asking. Oracle says: [Why do we need a new date and time library?](https://www.oracle.com/technical-resources/articles/java/jf14-date-time.html) Others say: [Still using java.util.Date? Don’t!](https://programminghints.com/2017/05/still-using-java-util-date-dont/) and [What's wrong with Java Date & Time API? \[closed\]](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1969442/whats-wrong-with-java-date-time-api) – Ole V.V. Feb 08 '21 at 20:05

User Input date giving error when parsed to SimpeDateFormat

2 Answers2