{"id":5132,"date":"2022-09-30T07:54:40","date_gmt":"2022-09-30T07:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pythontutorial.net\/?page_id=5132"},"modified":"2023-01-03T01:17:46","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T01:17:46","slug":"python-datetime","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.pythontutorial.net\/python-standard-library\/python-datetime\/","title":{"rendered":"Python datetime"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Summary<\/strong>: in this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use the Python datetime<\/code> module to manipulate dates and times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction to the Python datetime module #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The datetime<\/code> is a built-in module that provides classes for manipulating dates and times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To manipulate dates, you use the date<\/code> class. For example, the following example creates a new date object with year, month, and day:<\/p>\n\n\n

from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> date\n\nd = date(1999<\/span>, 12<\/span>, 31<\/span>)\nprint(d)\nprint(type(d))<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
1999<\/span>-12<\/span>-31<\/span>\n<class<\/span> 'datetime<\/span>.date<\/span>'><\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
How it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, import the date<\/code> class from the datetime<\/code> module:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> date<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Second, create a new date object with three integers year, month, and day:<\/p>\n\n\n
d = date(1999<\/span>, 12<\/span>, 31<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Note that if you use integers that are not valid for years, months, and days, you’ll get a ValueError<\/code> exception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Third, display the date object and its type:<\/p>\n\n\n
1999<\/span>-12<\/span>-31<\/span>\n<class<\/span> 'datetime<\/span>.date<\/span>'><\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Getting the year, month, and day of a date object #<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A date<\/code> object has some useful properties such as year<\/code>, day<\/code>, and month<\/code>:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> date\n\nd = date(1999<\/span>, 12<\/span>, 31<\/span>)\nprint(d.year, d.month, d.day)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
1999<\/span> 12<\/span> 31<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Getting the current date #<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To get the current date, you use the today()<\/code> class method:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> date\n\nd = date.today()\nprint(d)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Getting the weekday #<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The weekday()<\/code> returns the day of the week where Monday is zero, Tuesday is one, and so on. The isoweekday()<\/code> also returns the day of the week but Monday is one, Tuesday is two, and so on. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> date\n\nd = date(1999<\/span>, 12<\/span>, 31<\/span>)\n\nprint(d.weekday())\nprint(d.isoweekday())<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
To get the day name based on a weekday, you can use the day_name()<\/code> function of the calendar<\/code> module. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n
import<\/span> calendar\nfrom<\/span> datetime import<\/span> date\n\nd = date(1999<\/span>, 12<\/span>, 27<\/span>)\n\nprint(calendar.day_name[d.weekday()])  # Monday<\/span>\n\nprint(d.weekday())  # 0<\/span>\nprint(d.isoweekday())  # 1<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
timedelta #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To represent the difference between two dates, you use the timedelta<\/code> class. The following creates a new timedelta<\/code> object:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> timedelta\n\ndelta = timedelta(days=7<\/span>)\nprint(delta)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
7 days<\/span>, 0:00<\/span>:00<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> CSS<\/span> (<\/span>css<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Once having a timedelta<\/code> object, you can add\/subtract it to\/from a date object. For example, the following uses a timedelta to add 7 days to a today date:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> timedelta, date\n\n\ndelta = timedelta(days=7<\/span>)\nnext_week = date.today() + delta\nprint(next_week)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Adding\/subtracting two dates #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When you add or subtract two dates, you’ll get a timedelta<\/code> object. For example, the following shows the number of days to the new year:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> date\n\nnext_year = date.today().year + 1<\/span>\nnew_year = date(next_year, 1<\/span>, 1<\/span>)\nday_to_new_year = new_year - date.today()\n\nprint(type(day_to_new_year))\nprint(day_to_new_year)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
How it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, get the new year by adding one to the current year from today’s date:<\/p>\n\n\n
next_year = date.today().year + 1<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Second, create a new date<\/code> object with the new year date:<\/p>\n\n\n
new_year = date(next_year, 1<\/span>, 1<\/span>)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Third, subtract today’s date from the new year:<\/p>\n\n\n
day_to_new_year = new_year - date.today()<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Finally, show the output:<\/p>\n\n\n
print(type(day_to_new_year))\nprint(day_to_new_year)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
<class<\/span> 'datetime<\/span>.timedelta<\/span>'>\n93 days<\/span>, 0:<\/span>00<\/span>:00<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Note that the number of days when you run the program is likely different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To get the number of days only from a timedelta, you use the days<\/code> property:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> date\n\nnext_year = date.today().year + 1<\/span>\nnew_year = date(next_year, 1<\/span>, 1<\/span>)\nday_to_new_year = new_year - date.today()\n\nprint(day_to_new_year.days)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
93<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Time #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To represent times, you use the time<\/code> class from the datetime<\/code> module. For example, the following creates a new time object with hour, minute, second, and microsecond:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> time\n\n\nt = time(9<\/span>, 30<\/span>, 45<\/span>, 500<\/span>)\nprint(t)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
09<\/span>:30<\/span>:45.000500<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Like a date<\/code> object, the time<\/code> object has the hour, minute, second, and microsecond properties:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> time\n\n\nt = time(9<\/span>, 30<\/span>, 45<\/span>, 500<\/span>)\nprint(t.hour, t.minute, t.second, t.microsecond)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
9<\/span> 30<\/span> 45<\/span> 500<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
datetime #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The datetime<\/code> class represents both dates and times. The following creates a new datetime<\/code> object with the year, month, day, hour, minute, second, and microsecond:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> datetime\n\n\ndt = datetime(1999<\/span>, 12<\/span>, 31<\/span>, 9<\/span>, 30<\/span>, 45<\/span>, 500<\/span>)\nprint(dt.date())<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
1999<\/span>-12<\/span>-31<\/span> 09<\/span>:30<\/span>:45.000500<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
To get the current time, you use the now()<\/code> method of the datetime()<\/code> object:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> datetime, timedelta\n\n\ncurrent_time = datetime.now()\nprint(current_time)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
To get a date object out of the datetime<\/code> object, you use the date()<\/code> method:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> datetime\n\n\ndt = datetime(1999<\/span>, 12<\/span>, 31<\/span>, 9<\/span>, 30<\/span>, 45<\/span>, 500<\/span>)\nprint(dt.date())<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
1999<\/span>-12<\/span>-31<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Similarly, the time()<\/code> method returns the time object of the datetime<\/code> object:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> datetime\n\n\ndt = datetime(1999<\/span>, 12<\/span>, 31<\/span>, 9<\/span>, 30<\/span>, 45<\/span>, 500<\/span>)\nprint(dt.time())<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
09<\/span>:30<\/span>:45.000500<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Like date and time objects, you can add\/subtract a timedelta<\/code> to\/from a datetime object. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> datetime\n\n\ncurrent_time = datetime.now()\nprint(current_time)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
2000<\/span>-01<\/span>-01<\/span> 14<\/span>:30<\/span>:45.000500<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
In this example, we add 1 day and 5 hours to a datetime object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To get the current in UTC<\/code>, you use the utcnow()<\/code> method:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> datetime\n\n\ncurrent_time = datetime.utcnow()\nprint(current_time)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Formatting dates & times #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The date, time, and datetime objects have the strftime()<\/code> method that formats date, time, and datetime. It accepts an argument (format):<\/p>\n\n\n
strftime(format)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
The format<\/code> argument contains directives for formatting dates and times. The following table shows the format directives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Directive<\/th>Meaning<\/th>Example<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
%a<\/code><\/td>An abbreviated weekday name<\/td>Mon, Tue<\/td><\/tr>
%A<\/code><\/td>A Full weekday name<\/td>Monday, Tuesday, …<\/td><\/tr>
%w<\/code><\/td>A Weekday (0 is Sunday and 6 is Saturday)<\/td>0, 1, \u2026, 6<\/td><\/tr>
%d<\/code><\/td>A zero-padded day of the month<\/td>01, 02, \u2026, 31<\/td><\/tr>
%b<\/code><\/td>An abbreviated month name<\/td>Jan, Feb, …<\/td><\/tr>
%B<\/code><\/td>A full month name<\/td>January, February…<\/td><\/tr>
%m<\/code><\/td>A zero-padded month<\/td>01, 02, \u2026, 12<\/td><\/tr>
%y<\/code><\/td>A zero-padded year without century<\/td>00, 01, \u2026, 99<\/td><\/tr>
%Y<\/code><\/td>A zero-padded year with century<\/td>0001, 1999, …<\/td><\/tr>
%H<\/code><\/td>A zero-padded hour in a 24-hour clock<\/td>00, 01, \u2026, 23<\/td><\/tr>
%I<\/code><\/td>A zero-padded hour in a 12-hour clock<\/td>01, 02, \u2026, 12<\/td><\/tr>
%p<\/code><\/td>AM or PM<\/td>AM, PM<\/td><\/tr>
%M<\/code><\/td>a zero-padded minute<\/td>00, 01, \u2026, 59<\/td><\/tr>
%S<\/code><\/td>a zero-padded second<\/td>00, 01, \u2026, 59<\/td><\/tr>
%f<\/code><\/td>a zero-padded to 6 digits of microsecond<\/td>000000, 000001, \u2026, 999999<\/td><\/tr>
%z<\/code><\/td>UTC offset in the form \u00b1HHMM[SS[.ffffff]]<\/code><\/td>-0400, +1030, … <\/td><\/tr>
%Z<\/code><\/td>Time zone name<\/td>UTC, GMT, ”<\/td><\/tr>
%j<\/code><\/td>The zero-padded day of the year<\/td>001, 002, \u2026, 366<\/td><\/tr>
%U<\/code><\/td>Week number of the year<\/td>00, 01, \u2026, 53<\/td><\/tr>
%W<\/code><\/td>Week number of the year<\/td>00, 01, \u2026, 53<\/td><\/tr>
%c<\/code><\/td>date and time representation.<\/td>Fri Dec 31 09:30:45 1999<\/td><\/tr>
%x<\/code><\/td>Date string <\/td>12\/31\/99<\/td><\/tr>
%X<\/code><\/td>Time string<\/td>09:30:45<\/td><\/tr>
%%<\/code><\/td>The literal '%'<\/code> character.<\/td>%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For example, the following shows how to use the strftime()<\/code> method to format a date time:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> datetime\n\n\ndt = datetime(1999<\/span>, 12<\/span>, 31<\/span>, 9<\/span>, 30<\/span>, 45<\/span>)\ns = dt.strftime('%B %m, %Y %I:%M %p'<\/span>)\nprint(s)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
December 12<\/span>, 1999<\/span> 09<\/span>:30<\/span> AM<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> Python<\/span> (<\/span>python<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Convert a string to date & time #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The strptime()<\/code> is a class method of the datetime<\/code> class, which parses a string with a given format to a datetime<\/code> object:<\/p>\n\n\n
strptime(date_string, format)<\/code><\/span><\/pre>\n\n\n
For example:<\/p>\n\n\n
from<\/span> datetime import<\/span> datetime\n\n\ndt = datetime.strptime('August 13, 2022'<\/span>, '%B %d, %Y'<\/span>)\nprint(dt)\n<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> JavaScript<\/span> (<\/span>javascript<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Output:<\/p>\n\n\n
2022-08-13<\/span> 00:00<\/span>:00<\/span><\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> CSS<\/span> (<\/span>css<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
Summary #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Use the date<\/code> class to represent dates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Use the time<\/code> class to represent times.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Use the datetime<\/code> class to represent both dates and times.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Use the timedelta<\/code> class to represent a time delta.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Use the strftime()<\/code> method to format a date<\/code>, a time<\/code>, or a datetime<\/code> object.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Use the strptime()<\/code> method to parse a string into a datetime<\/code> object.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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