Date Format Regex Tester
Validate date strings with regular expressions
^(0[1-9]|1[0-2])\/(0[1-9]|[12]\d|3[01])\/(19|20)\d{2}$Regex Flags
No matches found
Pattern Explanation
^(0[1-9]|1[0-2])\/(0[1-9]|[12]\d|3[01])\/(19|20)\d{2}$No explanation available
About Date Regex Patterns
Date format validation is notoriously tricky: 02/30/2024 matches most date patterns but isn't a valid date. Regex can validate format and basic range (01-12 for months) but can't check calendar validity like February 29 in leap years.
Our date regex tester helps you build patterns for common formats while understanding regex limitations for date validation.
Why Validate Dates?
Consistent date formatting prevents data quality issues. When dates in a database mix MM/DD/YYYY and DD/MM/YYYY, sorting and filtering break silently. Validating format at input ensures consistency.
Regex validation provides immediate user feedback. Real-time format checking helps users enter dates correctly the first time, reducing form abandonment.
Building the Pattern
Date regex varies by format:
MM/DD/YYYY: • Month: 01-12 • Day: 01-31 (regex can't check month-specific limits) • Year: 4 digits
ISO 8601 (YYYY-MM-DD): • Year: 4 digits • Month: 01-12 • Day: 01-31
Combine with programmatic validation for calendar validity.
Common Use Cases
- Form input date fields
- Data import format validation
- Log file date parsing
- API date parameter validation
Pro Tip
Use HTML5 date inputs where possible—they provide native date pickers and format handling. Regex is best for parsing existing date strings, not new user input.
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