---
title: Parse a delimited date-range string into a DateRange
summary: Parse a delimited string back into a DateRange, defaulting on any failure.
status: draft
owner: saif-docgen
last_reviewed: 2026-09-15
library: SAIF.Framework.Common
reference_type: package
operation_id: OP-013
trigger: Caller round-trips a `DateRange.ToString()` value
---

# Parse a delimited date-range string into a DateRange

Parse a delimited string back into a DateRange, defaulting on any failure, triggered when caller round-trips a `DateRange.ToString()` value.

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| **Operation ID** | OP-013 |
| **Trigger** | Caller round-trips a `DateRange.ToString()` value |
| **Inputs** | `date`, `delimiter` |
| **Outputs** | `DateRange` |
| **Primary components** | ``SAIF.Common.DateRange.Parse(string date, string delimiter = "-")`` |
| **Entry point** | `Common/SAIF.Common/Classes/DateRange.cs` |

## Steps

1. Enter a `try` block wrapping the entire parse. ([BR-031](../business-rules.md#br-031-parsing-a-malformed-date-range-string-never-throws-%E2%80%94-it-silently-yields-the-unbounded-default-range))
2. Split the input on the trimmed delimiter's characters.
3. If more than one part is present, parse part 1 as the end date and set `hasEndDate = true`.
4. If at least one part is present, parse part 0 as the begin date.
5. Return a two-date `DateRange` when an end date was found, otherwise a begin-date-only `DateRange` (whose `EndDate` defaults to `DateTime.MaxValue`). ([BR-032](../business-rules.md#br-032-a-daterange-constructed-with-no-end-date-is-unbounded-forward))
6. On any exception, swallow it and return a default `DateRange()` — i.e. `MinValue`..`MaxValue`. ([BR-031](../business-rules.md#br-031-parsing-a-malformed-date-range-string-never-throws-%E2%80%94-it-silently-yields-the-unbounded-default-range))

## Process flow

The following diagram visualizes this operation's control flow.

```mermaid
flowchart TD
	Start(["Parse(date, delimiter) called"]) --> Try["Enter try block"]
	Try --> Split["Split input on trimmed<br>delimiter's characters"]
	Split --> Check1{"More than one part?"}
	Check1 -->|Yes| ParseEnd["Parse part 1 as end date;<br>set hasEndDate = true"]
	Check1 -->|No| Check2
	ParseEnd --> Check2{"At least one part?"}
	Check2 -->|Yes| ParseBegin["Parse part 0 as begin date"]
	Check2 -->|No| Decide
	ParseBegin --> Decide{"hasEndDate is true?"}
	Decide -->|Yes| TwoDate(["Return two-date DateRange"])
	Decide -->|No| OneDate(["Return begin-date-only<br>DateRange (EndDate = MaxValue)"])
	Try -.->|"On exception"| Catch(["Swallow exception; return<br>default DateRange (MinValue..MaxValue)"])
```

## Related documentation
- [Operations and processes](../operations-processes.md)
- [Business rules](../business-rules.md)

## Sources
- `Common/SAIF.Common/Classes/DateRange.cs`