Issue with DateTimeParseException when using STRICT resolver style

The strict resolver requires an era to go with YearOfEra. Change your pattern to use "u" instead of "y" and it will work, ie. "uuMMdd".

While JodaStephen has nicely explained the reason for the exception and given one good solution (use uu rather than yy), I am offering a couple of other possible solutions:

1. The obvious one that you probably don’t want: leave the resolver style at SMART (the default). In other words either leave out .withResolverStyle(ResolverStyle.STRICT) completely or change it to .withResolverStyle(ResolverStyle.SMART).
2. Provide a default era.

For the second option here is a code example:

    DateTimeFormatter formatter = new DateTimeFormatterBuilder()
            .appendPattern("yyMMdd")
            .parseDefaulting(ChronoField.ERA, 1)
            .toFormatter()
            .withResolverStyle(ResolverStyle.STRICT);

    String expiryDate = "160501";
    LocalDate result = LocalDate.parse(expiryDate, formatter);
    
    System.out.println(result);

Output is:

2016-05-01

Where the last solution may make a difference compared to using uu in the format pattern:

1. It allows us to use a format pattern that is given to us where we cannot control whether pattern letter u or y is used.
2. With pattern letter y it will fail with an exception if the string contains a negative year. Depending on your situation and requirements this may be desirable or unacceptable.

Edit: The second argument to parseDefaulting() may also be written IsoEra.CE.getValue() rather than just 1 to make it clear that we are specifying the current era (CE; also often called Anno Domini or AD).