diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 190bf6f..8b99e90 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -21,10 +21,15 @@ Create version info files based on the latest changelog entry.
     - [Available default template files](#available-default-template-files)
         - [C header file](#c-header-file)
         - [Python package file](#python-package-file)
+        - [JSON output](#json-output)
+            - [Console](#console)
+            - [File](#file)
 - [Advanced](#advanced)
     - [Custom regular expressions](#custom-regular-expressions)
     - [Custom template file](#custom-template-file)
     - [Additional version info content](#additional-version-info-content)
+- [Contributing](#contributing)
+    - [Unittests](#unittests)
 - [Credits](#credits)
 
 <!-- /MarkdownTOC -->
@@ -105,6 +110,36 @@ __version__ = '.'.join(__version_info__)
 
 ```
 
+#### JSON output
+
+The additional, optional argument `--pretty` will output the JSON data with an
+indentation of 4 in order to provide the data in an easy to read format.
+
+##### Console
+
+```bash
+changelog2version \
+    --changelog_file changelog.md \
+    --print \
+    --debug
+```
+
+```json
+{"info": {"version": "0.6.0"}, "releases": {"0.6.0": [{"upload_time": "2022-10-26"}], "0.5.0": [{"upload_time": "2022-10-20"}], "0.4.0": [{"upload_time": "2022-08-07"}], "0.3.0": [{"upload_time": "2022-08-05"}], "0.2.0": [{"upload_time": "2022-08-03"}], "0.1.1": [{"upload_time": "2022-07-31"}], "0.1.0": [{"upload_time": "2022-07-31"}]}}
+```
+
+##### File
+
+```bash
+changelog2version \
+    --changelog_file changelog.md \
+    --output changelog.json \
+    --pretty \
+    --debug
+```
+
+See [example JSON file][ref-example-json-file]
+
 ## Advanced
 
 ### Custom regular expressions
@@ -202,6 +237,33 @@ __version__ = '.'.join(__version_info__) + '-rc1234'
 
 ```
 
+## Contributing
+
+### Unittests
+
+Run the unittests locally with the following command after installing this
+package in a virtual environment or by using `tox` to create one on each run.
+
+```bash
+# install the package with all its development dependencies
+pip install .[dev]
+
+# run all tests
+nose2 --config tests/unittest.cfg
+
+# run only one specific tests
+nose2 tests.test_extract_version.TestExtractVersion.test_version_line_regex
+```
+
+Generate the coverage files with
+
+```bash
+python create_report_dirs.py
+coverage html
+```
+
+The coverage report is placed at `reports/coverage/html/index.html`
+
 ## Credits
 
 Based on the [PyPa sample project][ref-pypa-sample]. Also a big thank you to
@@ -211,6 +273,7 @@ documentation and [regex example][ref-semver-regex-example]
 <!-- Links -->
 [ref-package-version-file]: src/changelog2version/version.py
 [ref-templates-folder]: src/changelog2version/templates
+[ref-example-json-file]: examples/changelog.json
 [ref-py-core-metadata-spec]: https://packaging.python.org/specifications/core-metadat
 [ref-pep440]: https://peps.python.org/pep-0440/
 [ref-pypa-sample]: https://github.com/pypa/sampleproject
diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index be88102..ad86492 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -17,6 +17,17 @@ r"^\#\# \[\d{1,}[.]\d{1,}[.]\d{1,}\] \- \d{4}\-\d{2}-\d{2}$"
 -->
 
 ## Released
+## [0.6.0] - 2022-10-26
+### Added
+- Changelog can be parsed as JSON file with a similar format as the pypi
+  package JSON info available at `https://pypi.org/pypi/PACKAGENAME/json`, see
+  [#16][ref-issue-16]
+  The new option `--output` writes the data in JSON valid format to a file specified file, `--print` flag sends the data in JSON valid format to
+  `sys.stdout`. In both cases `--pretty` flag can be set to output the data with an indentation of 4.
+
+### Changed
+- `--version_file` argument is optional in order to allow a JSON output only
+
 ## [0.5.0] - 2022-10-20
 ### Added
 - Support additional version info file content in python version files by
@@ -128,8 +139,9 @@ r"^\#\# \[\d{1,}[.]\d{1,}[.]\d{1,}\] \- \d{4}\-\d{2}-\d{2}$"
 - Data folder after fork
 
 <!-- Links -->
-[Unreleased]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/compare/0.5.0...develop
+[Unreleased]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/compare/0.6.0...develop
 
+[0.6.0]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/tree/0.6.0
 [0.5.0]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/tree/0.5.0
 [0.4.0]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/tree/0.4.0
 [0.3.0]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/tree/0.3.0
@@ -137,6 +149,7 @@ r"^\#\# \[\d{1,}[.]\d{1,}[.]\d{1,}\] \- \d{4}\-\d{2}-\d{2}$"
 [0.1.1]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/tree/0.1.1
 [0.1.0]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/tree/0.1.0
 
+[ref-issue-16]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/issues/16
 [ref-issue-5]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/issues/5
 [ref-issue-8]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/issues/8
 [ref-issue-11]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/issues/11
diff --git a/examples/changelog.json b/examples/changelog.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..00f6074
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/changelog.json
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{
+    "info": {
+        "version": "0.6.0"
+    },
+    "releases": {
+        "0.6.0": [
+            {
+                "upload_time": "2022-10-26"
+            }
+        ],
+        "0.5.0": [
+            {
+                "upload_time": "2022-10-20"
+            }
+        ],
+        "0.4.0": [
+            {
+                "upload_time": "2022-08-07"
+            }
+        ],
+        "0.3.0": [
+            {
+                "upload_time": "2022-08-05"
+            }
+        ],
+        "0.2.0": [
+            {
+                "upload_time": "2022-08-03"
+            }
+        ],
+        "0.1.1": [
+            {
+                "upload_time": "2022-07-31"
+            }
+        ],
+        "0.1.0": [
+            {
+                "upload_time": "2022-07-31"
+            }
+        ]
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/changelog2version/extract_version.py b/src/changelog2version/extract_version.py
index 9032ea7..f53a6e3 100644
--- a/src/changelog2version/extract_version.py
+++ b/src/changelog2version/extract_version.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 import re
 from semver import VersionInfo
 from sys import stdout
-from typing import Optional
+from typing import List, Optional
 
 
 class ExtractVersionError(Exception):
@@ -61,6 +61,13 @@ def __init__(self, logger: Optional[logging.Logger] = None):
             r"(?P<timestamp>\d{2,}:\d{2,}:\d{2,}?))?"   # time as HH:MM:SS
         )
 
+        self._date_line_regex = (
+            r".*"    # anything
+            r"(?P<datetime>\d{4}\-\d{2}-\d{2})"     # datetime as YYYY-MM-DD
+            r"(([T ]{1})"   # seperation between date and time by "T" or space
+            r"(?P<timestamp>\d{2,}:\d{2,}:\d{2,}?))?"   # time as HH:MM:SS
+        )
+
     @property
     def version_line_regex(self) -> str:
         """
@@ -109,6 +116,30 @@ def semver_line_regex(self, value: str) -> None:
         except re.error:
             raise ExtractVersionError("Invalid regex pattern")
 
+    @property
+    def date_line_regex(self) -> str:
+        """
+        Get regex to extract the date part from the complete version line
+
+        :returns:   Regex to get the date part
+        :rtype:     str
+        """
+        return self._date_line_regex
+
+    @date_line_regex.setter
+    def date_line_regex(self, value: str) -> None:
+        """
+        Set regex to extract the date part from the complete version line
+
+        :param      value:  Regex to get the date part
+        :type       value:  str
+        """
+        try:
+            re.compile(value)
+            self._date_line_regex = value
+        except re.error:
+            raise ExtractVersionError("Invalid regex pattern")
+
     @property
     def semver_data(self) -> VersionInfo:
         """
@@ -173,17 +204,69 @@ def parse_changelog(self, changelog_file: Path) -> str:
         """
         release_version_line = ""
 
+        release_version_lines = self.parse_changelog_completely(
+            changelog_file=changelog_file,
+            first_line_only=True)
+
+        if len(release_version_lines) >= 1:
+            release_version_line = release_version_lines[0]
+
+        return release_version_line
+
+    def parse_changelog_completely(self,
+                                   changelog_file: Path,
+                                   first_line_only: bool = False) -> List[str]:
+        """
+        Parse the changelog for all matching version lines
+
+        :param      changelog_file:  The path to the changelog file
+        :type       changelog_file:  Path
+        :param      first_line_only: Flag to break after first match found
+        :type       first_line_only: bool
+
+        :returns:   List of extracted semantic version strings
+        :rtype:     List[str]
+        """
+        release_version_lines = []
+
         with open(changelog_file, "r") as f:
             for line in f:
                 match = re.search(self.version_line_regex, line)
                 if match:
-                    release_version_line = match.group()
-                    break
+                    release_version_lines.append(match.group())
+                    if first_line_only:
+                        break
 
-        self._logger.debug("First matching release version line: '{}'".
-                           format(release_version_line))
+        self._logger.debug("Matching release version lines: '{}'".
+                           format(release_version_lines))
 
-        return release_version_line
+        return release_version_lines
+
+    def parse_semver_line_date(self, release_version_line: str) -> str:
+        """
+        Parse a version line for a valid ISO8601 datetime
+
+        Examples of a valid ISO8601 datetime lines:
+        - "## [0.2.0] - 2022-05-19"
+        - "## [107.3.18] - 1900-01-01 12:34:56"
+        - "## [1.0.0-alpha-a.b-c-somethinglong+build.1-aef.1-its-okay] - 2012-01-02"    # noqa
+
+        :param      release_version_line:  The release version line
+        :type       release_version_line:  str
+
+        :returns:   ISO8601 datetime string, e.g. "1970-01-01"
+        :rtype:     str
+        """
+        date_string = "1970-01-01"
+
+        match = re.search(self.date_line_regex, release_version_line)
+        if match:
+            if len(match.groups()) >= 4 and match.group(2):
+                date_string = match.group(1) + match.group(2)
+            else:
+                date_string = match.group(1)
+
+        return date_string
 
     def parse_semver_line(self, release_version_line: str) -> str:
         """
diff --git a/src/changelog2version/update_version.py b/src/changelog2version/update_version.py
index 7f80c52..9052078 100644
--- a/src/changelog2version/update_version.py
+++ b/src/changelog2version/update_version.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def parse_arguments() -> argparse.Namespace:
 
     parser.add_argument('--version_file',
                         dest='version_file',
-                        required=True,
+                        required=False,
                         help='Path to rendered file')
 
     parser.add_argument('--version_file_type',
@@ -134,6 +134,22 @@ def parse_arguments() -> argparse.Namespace:
                         help='Regex to extract semver part of from a version '
                              'line')
 
+    parser.add_argument('--output',
+                        dest='dump_to_file',
+                        required=False,
+                        help='Dump parsed changelog as JSON file to file')
+
+    parser.add_argument('--print',
+                        dest='print_result',
+                        required=False,
+                        action='store_true',
+                        help='Print parsed changelog as JSON to stdout')
+
+    parser.add_argument('--pretty',
+                        dest='pretty_output',
+                        action='store_true',
+                        help='Print JSON data at stdout in readable format')
+
     parsed_args = parser.parse_args()
 
     return parsed_args
@@ -154,16 +170,21 @@ def main():
 
     # changelog_file = Path(args.changelog_file).resolve()
     changelog_file = args.changelog_file
-    version_file = Path(args.version_file).resolve()
+    version_file = None
     template_file = args.template_file
     version_file_type = args.version_file_type
     additional_template_data = args.additional_template_data
     additional_version_info = args.additional_version_info
     version_line_regex = args.version_line_regex
     semver_line_regex = args.semver_line_regex
+    dump_to_file = args.dump_to_file
+    print_result = args.print_result
+    pretty_output = args.pretty_output
 
-    logger.debug("Using changelog file '{}' to update version file '{}'".
-                 format(changelog_file, version_file))
+    if args.version_file:
+        version_file = Path(args.version_file).resolve()
+        logger.debug("Using changelog file '{}' to update version file '{}'".
+                     format(changelog_file, version_file))
 
     version_extractor = ExtractVersion(logger=logger)
 
@@ -177,8 +198,21 @@ def main():
                      "changelog file: {}".format(version_line_regex))
         version_extractor.version_line_regex = version_line_regex
 
-    version_line = version_extractor.parse_changelog(changelog_file)
-    semver_string = version_extractor.parse_semver_line(version_line)
+    version_line = version_extractor.parse_changelog(
+        changelog_file=changelog_file)
+    version_lines = version_extractor.parse_changelog_completely(
+        changelog_file=changelog_file)
+
+    release_infos = {}
+    for line in version_lines:
+        this_semver_string = version_extractor.parse_semver_line(
+            release_version_line=line)
+        this_date_string = version_extractor.parse_semver_line_date(
+            release_version_line=line)
+        release_infos[this_semver_string] = [{"upload_time": this_date_string}]
+
+    semver_string = version_extractor.parse_semver_line(
+        release_version_line=version_line)
 
     file_renderer = RenderVersionFile()
     semver_data = version_extractor.semver_data
@@ -212,10 +246,29 @@ def main():
                            "a template from this list: {}".
                            format(template_file_map.keys()))
 
-    rendered_content = file_renderer.render_file(
-        template=template_file,
-        file_path=version_file,
-        content=version_file_content)
+    if version_file:
+        rendered_content = file_renderer.render_file(
+            template=template_file,
+            file_path=version_file,
+            content=version_file_content)
+
+    changelog_data = {
+        'info': {'version': semver_string},
+        'releases': release_infos
+    }
+
+    if print_result:
+        if pretty_output:
+            stdout.write(json.dumps(changelog_data, indent=4))
+        else:
+            stdout.write(json.dumps(changelog_data))
+
+    if dump_to_file:
+        with open(dump_to_file, 'w') as file:
+            if pretty_output:
+                file.write(json.dumps(changelog_data, indent=4))
+            else:
+                file.write(json.dumps(changelog_data))
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/tests/data/valid/changelog_with_date.md b/tests/data/valid/changelog_with_date.md
index 8ab5034..13f56e3 100644
--- a/tests/data/valid/changelog_with_date.md
+++ b/tests/data/valid/changelog_with_date.md
@@ -17,9 +17,14 @@ r"^\#\# \[\d{1,}[.]\d{1,}[.]\d{1,}\] \- \d{4}\-\d{2}-\d{2}"
 -->
 
 ## Released
-## [1.2.3] - 2022-07-31
+## [1.3.0] - 2022-10-26
 ### Added
 - Something fixed
 
+## [1.2.3] - 2022-07-31
+### Fixed
+- Something fixed
+
 <!-- Links -->
+[1.3.0]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/tree/1.3.0
 [1.2.3]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/tree/1.2.3
diff --git a/tests/data/valid/changelog_with_date_and_time.md b/tests/data/valid/changelog_with_date_and_time.md
index 16f9e30..c9f1c50 100644
--- a/tests/data/valid/changelog_with_date_and_time.md
+++ b/tests/data/valid/changelog_with_date_and_time.md
@@ -17,9 +17,14 @@ r"^\#\# \[\d{1,}[.]\d{1,}[.]\d{1,}\] \- \d{4}\-\d{2}-\d{2}"
 -->
 
 ## Released
-## [93.10.1] - 2022-07-31 12:34:56
+## [94.0.0] - 2022-10-26 23:59:01
 ### Added
 - Something fixed
 
+## [93.10.1] - 2022-07-31 12:34:56
+### Fixed
+- Something fixed
+
 <!-- Links -->
+[94.0.0]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/tree/94.0.0
 [93.10.1]: https://github.com/brainelectronics/changelog2version/tree/93.10.1
diff --git a/tests/test_extract_version.py b/tests/test_extract_version.py
index 2e97998..abef1e2 100644
--- a/tests/test_extract_version.py
+++ b/tests/test_extract_version.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from nose2.tools import params
 from pathlib import Path
 from sys import stdout
+from typing import List
 import unittest
 from unittest.mock import patch, mock_open
 
@@ -60,15 +61,24 @@ def test_semver_line_regex(self) -> None:
 
         self.assertEqual("Invalid regex pattern", str(context.exception))
 
+    def test_date_line_regex(self) -> None:
+        """Test property date_line_regex"""
+        self.ev.date_line_regex = "gray|grey"
+
+        with self.assertRaises(ExtractVersionError) as context:
+            self.ev.date_line_regex = "["
+
+        self.assertEqual("Invalid regex pattern", str(context.exception))
+
     @unittest.skip("Not yet implemented")
     def test__create_logger(self):
         """Test logger creation"""
         pass
 
     @params(
-        ("changelog_with_date.md", "## [1.2.3] - 2022-07-31"),
+        ("changelog_with_date.md", "## [1.3.0] - 2022-10-26"),
         ("changelog_with_date_and_time.md",
-         "## [93.10.1] - 2022-07-31 12:34:56"),
+         "## [94.0.0] - 2022-10-26 23:59:01"),
     )
     def test_parse_changelog_file(self,
                                   file_name: str,
@@ -83,6 +93,34 @@ def test_parse_changelog_file(self,
         self.assertIsInstance(result, str)
         self.assertEqual(expectation, result)
 
+    @params(
+        (
+            "changelog_with_date.md",
+            ["## [1.3.0] - 2022-10-26", "## [1.2.3] - 2022-07-31"],
+        ),
+        (
+            "changelog_with_date_and_time.md",
+            [
+                "## [94.0.0] - 2022-10-26 23:59:01",
+                "## [93.10.1] - 2022-07-31 12:34:56"
+            ]
+        ),
+    )
+    def test_parse_changelog_completely_file(self,
+                                             file_name: str,
+                                             expectation: List[str]) -> None:
+        """Test parse_changelog"""
+        changelog = self._here / 'data' / 'valid' / file_name
+
+        result = self.ev.parse_changelog_completely(changelog_file=changelog)
+        self.test_logger.debug('Extracted "{}" from "{}"'.
+                               format(result, changelog.name))
+
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, list)
+        self.assertEqual(len(result), len(expectation))
+        self.assertTrue(all(isinstance(ele, str) for ele in result))
+        self.assertEqual(expectation, result)
+
     @params(
         # valid semver release version lines
         ("## [1.2.3] - 2012-01-02", "## [1.2.3] - 2012-01-02"),
@@ -156,6 +194,311 @@ def test_parse_changelog_line(self, line: str, expectation: str) -> None:
             self.assertIsInstance(result, str)
             self.assertEqual(expectation, result)
 
+    @params(
+        # test strings taken from https://regex101.com/r/Ly7O1x/3/ and adopted
+        # valid semver release version lines without timestamp
+        ("## [1.2.3] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [10.20.30] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.1.2-prerelease+meta] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.1.2+meta] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.1.2+meta-valid] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-beta] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha.beta] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha.beta.1] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha.1] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha0.valid] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha.0valid] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0-alpha-a.b-c-somethinglong+build.1-aef.1-its-okay] - "
+            "2012-01-02",
+            "2012-01-02"
+        ),
+        ("## [1.0.0-rc.1+build.1] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [2.0.0-rc.1+build.123] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.2.3-beta] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [10.2.3-DEV-SNAPSHOT] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.2.3-SNAPSHOT-123] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.0.0] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [2.0.0] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.1.7] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [2.0.0+build.1848] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [2.0.1-alpha.1227] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha+beta] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+        (
+            "## [1.2.3----RC-SNAPSHOT.12.9.1--.12+788] - 2012-01-02",
+            "2012-01-02"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.2.3----R-S.12.9.1--.12+meta] - 2012-01-02",
+            "2012-01-02"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.2.3----RC-SNAPSHOT.12.9.1--.12] - 2012-01-02",
+            "2012-01-02"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0+0.build.1-rc.10000aaa-kk-0.1] - 2012-01-02",
+            "2012-01-02"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [99999999999999999999999.999999999999999999.99999999999999999]"
+            " - 2012-01-02",
+            "2012-01-02"
+        ),
+        ("## [1.0.0-0A.is.legal] - 2012-01-02", "2012-01-02"),
+
+        # valid release version lines with timestamp
+        # timestamp shall be seperated from date by
+        #   - "T" to follow the ISO8601 norm
+        #   - a single space
+        # timestamp seperated from date by a single "T"
+        ("## [1.2.3] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        ("## [10.20.30] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        (
+            "## [1.1.2-prerelease+meta] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        ("## [1.1.2+meta] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        ("## [1.1.2+meta-valid] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-beta] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha.beta] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0-alpha.beta.1] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha.1] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0-alpha0.valid] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0-alpha.0valid] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0-alpha-a.b-c-somethinglong+build.1-aef.1-its-okay] - "
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0-rc.1+build.1] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [2.0.0-rc.1+build.123] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        ("## [1.2.3-beta] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        (
+            "## [10.2.3-DEV-SNAPSHOT] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.2.3-SNAPSHOT-123] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        ("## [1.0.0] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        ("## [2.0.0] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        ("## [1.1.7] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        ("## [2.0.0+build.1848] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        ("## [2.0.1-alpha.1227] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha+beta] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56", "2012-01-02T12:34:56"),
+        (
+            "## [1.2.3----RC-SNAPSHOT.12.9.1--.12+788] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.2.3----R-S.12.9.1--.12+meta] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.2.3----RC-SNAPSHOT.12.9.1--.12] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0+0.build.1-rc.10000aaa-kk-0.1] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [99999999999999999999999.999999999999999999.99999999999999999]"
+            " - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0-0A.is.legal] - 2012-01-02T12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02T12:34:56"
+        ),
+
+        # timestamp seperated from date by a single space
+        ("## [1.2.3] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        ("## [10.20.30] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        (
+            "## [1.1.2-prerelease+meta] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        ("## [1.1.2+meta] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        ("## [1.1.2+meta-valid] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-beta] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha.beta] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0-alpha.beta.1] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha.1] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0-alpha0.valid] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0-alpha.0valid] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0-alpha-a.b-c-somethinglong+build.1-aef.1-its-okay] - "
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0-rc.1+build.1] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [2.0.0-rc.1+build.123] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        ("## [1.2.3-beta] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        (
+            "## [10.2.3-DEV-SNAPSHOT] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.2.3-SNAPSHOT-123] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        ("## [1.0.0] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        ("## [2.0.0] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        ("## [1.1.7] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        ("## [2.0.0+build.1848] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        ("## [2.0.1-alpha.1227] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha+beta] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56", "2012-01-02 12:34:56"),
+        (
+            "## [1.2.3----RC-SNAPSHOT.12.9.1--.12+788] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.2.3----R-S.12.9.1--.12+meta] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.2.3----RC-SNAPSHOT.12.9.1--.12] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0+0.build.1-rc.10000aaa-kk-0.1] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [99999999999999999999999.999999999999999999.99999999999999999]"
+            " - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+        (
+            "## [1.0.0-0A.is.legal] - 2012-01-02 12:34:56",
+            "2012-01-02 12:34:56"
+        ),
+
+        # invalid release version lines
+        ("## [1] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.2] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.2.3-0123] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.2.3-0123.0123] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.1.2+.123] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [+invalid] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [-invalid] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [-invalid+invalid] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [-invalid.01] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [alpha] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [alpha.beta] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [alpha.beta.1] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [alpha.1] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [alpha+beta] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [alpha_beta] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [alpha.] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [alpha..] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [beta] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha_beta] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [-alpha.] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha..] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha..1] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha...1] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha....1] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha.....1] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha......1] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.0.0-alpha.......1] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [01.1.1] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.01.1] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.1.01] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.2] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.2.3.DEV] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [1.2-SNAPSHOT] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        (
+            "## [1.2.31.2.3----RC-SNAPSHOT.12.09.1--..12+788] - 1970-01-01",
+            "1970-01-01"
+        ),
+        ("## [1.2-RC-SNAPSHOT] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [-1.0.3-gamma+b7718] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [+justmeta] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [9.8.7+meta+meta] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        ("## [9.8.7-whatever+meta+meta] - 1970-01-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        (
+            "## [99999999999999999999999.999999999999999999.99999999999999999"
+            "----RC-SNAPSHOT.12.09.1--------------------------------..12] - "
+            "1970-01-01",
+            "1970-01-01"
+        ),
+
+        # valid version line, but invalid changelog version lines
+        (
+            # missing "## " at the beginning
+            "[1.2.0] - 1900-01-01", "1900-01-01"
+        ),
+        (
+            # year does not follow YYYY format
+            "## [1.2.3] - 19-01-01", "1970-01-01"
+        ),
+        (
+            # month does not follow MM format
+            "## [1.3.0] - 1900-1-01", "1970-01-01"),
+        (
+            # day does not follow DD format
+            "## [1.4.7] - 1900-01-1", "1970-01-01"),
+        (
+            # month and day does not follow MM-DD form
+            "## [1.5.8] - 1900-1-1", "1970-01-01"),
+        (
+            # year, month and day does not follow YYYY-MM-DD format
+            "## [1.6.0] - 19-1-1", "1970-01-01"
+        ),
+        # there will be a problem on the first of January 10.000 :)
+    )
+    def test_parse_semver_line_date(self, line: str, expectation: str) -> None:
+        """
+        Test parse semver line
+
+        :param      line:           The parse semver line
+        :type       line:           str
+        :param      expectation:    Expected, parsed result
+        :type       expectation:    str
+        """
+        result = self.ev.parse_semver_line_date(release_version_line=line)
+        self.test_logger.debug('Extracted "{}" from "{}"'.format(result, line))
+
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, str)
+        self.assertEqual(expectation, result)
+
     @params(
         # test strings taken from https://regex101.com/r/Ly7O1x/3/ and adopted
         # valid semver release version lines without timestamp