Fiscal Quarter (QN YYYY or YYYY QN) Regex for Java
/^(?:(Q[1-4])\s+((?:19|20)[0-9]{2})|((?:19|20)[0-9]{2})\s+(Q[1-4]))$/iWhat this pattern does
This page provides a comprehensive, battle-tested regular expression for matching fiscal quarter (qn yyyy or yyyy qn), ported and verified for Java. A rigorously tested regex reduces debugging time and protects your application from edge-case failures. The snippet below is ready to drop into your Java project — whether you're validating in a Spring Boot controller, a Jakarta EE service, or a standalone utility class.
Java Implementation
// Fiscal Quarter (QN YYYY or YYYY QN)
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Localization > Date Formats
import java.util.regex.Pattern;
public class FiscalQuarterQnYyyyOrYyyyQnValidator {
private static final Pattern PATTERN =
Pattern.compile("^(?:(Q[1-4])\\s+((?:19|20)[0-9]{2})|((?:19|20)[0-9]{2})\\s+(Q[1-4]))$");
public static boolean validate(String input) {
return PATTERN.matcher(input).matches();
}
// Example
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println(validate("Q1 2024")); // true
}
}Test Cases
Matches (Valid) | Rejects (Invalid) |
|---|---|
Q1 2024 | Q5 2024 |
Q4 2023 | Q0 2024 |
2024 Q1 | Q1 24 |
2024 Q3 | 2024Q1 |
q2 2024 | Quarter 1 2024 |
When to use this pattern
This pattern is drawn from the Localization > Date Formats category and carries a ReDoS-safe certification. That matters for Java developers because critical in Java applications since the JVM regex engine uses backtracking and is susceptible to ReDoS without careful pattern design. RegexVault audits patterns against known backtracking attack vectors, ensuring you have the necessary context before using this regex in a high-stakes production environment.
Common Pitfalls
Q1 FY2024 means different months at Apple (Oct-Dec) vs Microsoft (Jul-Sep) vs a calendar-year company (Jan-Mar). Always document the fiscal year start when using quarter labels.
Technical Notes
Capture groups: 1=quarter (QN format), 2=year (QN format), 3=year (YQ format), 4=quarter (YQ format). Fiscal quarters may not align with calendar quarters — Q1 may start in January, April, July, or October depending on the company's fiscal year.
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