validate date format in java

/**
 * @author lautturi.com
 * Java example: java date format validation
 */

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

public class Lautturi {
	public static void main(String[] args)  {
		
		String pattern = "yyyy-MM-dd";
		SimpleDateFormat simpleDateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat(pattern);

		Date date;
		try {
			date = simpleDateFormat.parse("2018-12-09"); // 20181208
			System.out.println(date);
		} catch (ParseException e) {
			System.out.println("Not a date format");
			e.printStackTrace();
		}
		
	}
}