use strict; use warnings; use 5.010; my $str = 'Timestamp 10.72.218.82:cpu_busy ---------------------------------- 2009-11-05 17:59:52 1.501 '; my ($date) = $str =~ /(^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2})/m; say "-->$date<--"; --output:-- -->2009-11-05<--