- preg_match: documentation ( source)
<?php
$date_regex = '/(0[1-9]|[12][0-9]|3[01])\/(0[1-9]|1[012])\/(19|20)\d\d /';
$test_date = '22/03/2010';
if(preg_match($date_regex, $test_date)) {
echo 'this date is formatted correctly';
} else {
echo 'this date is not formatted correctly';
}