How to Parse Non-Standard DateTime Strings in C#?

Handling Irregular Date and Time Strings in C#

Many applications encounter date and time strings that deviate from standard formats. For example, "2009-05-08 14:40:52,531" is not a readily parsable DateTime string using default methods.

The Solution: Custom Date/Time Formatting

The key to parsing these non-standard strings is using C#'s DateTime.ParseExact method with a custom format string. This string precisely mirrors the structure of your irregular date/time string.

In the example string "2009-05-08 14:40:52,531", we need to account for:

• Year, month, and day ("yyyy-MM-dd")
• Hours, minutes, and seconds ("HH:mm:ss")
• Milliseconds (including the comma and three digits ",fff")

C# Code Example

Here's how to parse the string using DateTime.ParseExact:

DateTime myDate = DateTime.ParseExact("2009-05-08 14:40:52,531", "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss,fff",
                                       System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture ensures consistent parsing regardless of regional settings. This approach guarantees reliable conversion of non-standard date and time strings into usable DateTime objects.

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