Java change date format from custom date to MM dd yyyy
date, formatting, java, parsing
Solution
In short, you're not using the right format for parsing. You need to use two `DateFormat` instances; one for parsing and one for formatting.
DateFormat parser = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd");
DateFormat formatter = new SimpleDateFormat("MMM dd, yyyy");
Date convertedDate = parser.parse(datePlayed);
String output = formatter.format(convertedDate);
Problem
I am trying to convert a String value that is stored in a database,for example "2012-01-20", to be in the format January 20, 2012. I have seen some examples, but they are using `Date` which works with `SimpleDateFormat`. As an example here is one way I tried but the "try" always fails and the result is null ``` DateFormat df = new SimpleDateFormat("MM/dd/yyyy"); Date convertedDate=null; try { convertedDate = df.parse(datePlayed); } catch(ParseException e){ e.printStackTrace(); } ```