public class StringEx { /** * @param args */ public static void main(String[] args) { String date = "04/09/2013"; int startpos = 0; int endpos = date.indexOf("/"); String monthStr = date.substring(startpos, endpos); startpos = endpos + 1; endpos = date.indexOf("/", startpos); String dayStr = date.substring(startpos, endpos); startpos = endpos + 1; String yearStr = date.substring(startpos); System.out.printf("m = %s, d = %s, y = %s\n", monthStr, dayStr, yearStr); } } Output: m = 04, d = 09, y = 2013