Unlike other programming languages, Python doesn’t allow us to work with Date objects directly. To work with date and time objects, you have to import a module called datetime in Python. This Python datetime module holds different classes to work with dates or to manipulate dates and times.
Learn how to import datetime in Python, work with date and time objects, format datetime, timedelta with practical examples. To import the Python datetime module.
import datetime
The syntax of this Python datetime is
datetime.datetime(Year_Number, Month_Number, Day_Number, Hours, Minutes, Seconds)
Python datetime examples
Let me show you the list of available methods in this Python datetime module. For this, you have to use the Python datetime as the dir function argument.
# datetime Example import datetime print(dir(datetime))
List of available methods in Python datetime module.
['MAXYEAR', 'MINYEAR', '__all__', '__builtins__', '__cached__', '__doc__', '__file__', '__loader__', '__name__', '__package__', '__spec__', 'date', 'datetime', 'datetime_CAPI', 'sys', 'time', 'timedelta', 'timezone', 'tzinfo']The MAXYEAR returns the maximum(highest) year supported by the Python datetime module, i.e., 9999. The MINYEAR returns the smallest allowed year, i.e., 1.
import datetime
print('Maximum Year = ', datetime.MAXYEAR)
print('Minimum Year = ', datetime.MINYEAR)
datetime MAXYEAR and MINYEAR output
Maximum Year = 9999
Minimum Year = 1The following datetime example uses the Python today method to returns the current date.
import datetime
dt = datetime.date.today()
print('Today\'s Date = ', dt)
datetime today function output
Today's Date = 2021-05-03Python datetime class
This class has attributes of year, month, and day. Here, the first print statement extracts and returns the Year from the current date. The next two print statement returns Month number and Day.
import datetime
today = datetime.date.today()
print('Today\'s Date = ', today)
print('Year from Today\'s Date = ', today.year)
print('Month from Today\'s Date = ', today.month)
print('Day from Today\'s Date = ', today.day)
datetime class output
Today's Date = 2021-05-03
Year from Today's Date = 2021
Month from Today's Date = 5
Day from Today's Date = 3Python datetime now
The Python datetime module has now function, which returns the current date and time.
import datetime
dt = datetime.datetime.now()
print(dt)
print('Today\'s Date and Time = ', dt)
datetime now function
2021-05-03 16:03:25.186286
Today's Date and Time = 2021-05-03 16:03:25.186286Until now, we are using the import datetime, and that was the reason we are using datetim.datetime.method_name. However, if we use from datetime import datetime, we can get rid of that extra datetime.
See the available date and time functions in Python datetime to extract and return date, time from the current date & time.
from datetime import datetime
dt = datetime.now()
print('Date and time = ', dt)
print('Current Date = ', dt.date())
print('Current Time = ', dt.time())
Extracting date and time from current date written by datetime
Date and time = 2021-05-03 16:02:43.706407
Current Date = 2021-05-03
Current Time = 16:02:43.706407Python datetime class attributes
It returns the Year from the current date and time.
import datetime
dt = datetime.datetime.now()
print('Today\'s Date and Time = ', dt)
print('Calendar Year = ', dt.year)
datetime class attribute output
Today's Date and Time = 2021-05-03 16:01:05.917863
Calendar Year = 2021This example displays the list of all the available attributes in Python datetime class. They are Year, Month, Day of Month, hour, minute, second, microsecond, and weekday.
from datetime import datetime
dt = datetime.now()
print('Date = ', dt)
print('Year from Date = ', dt.year)
print('Month from Date = ', dt.month)
print('Day from Date = ', dt.day)
print('Hour from Date = ', dt.hour)
print('Minute from Date = ', dt.minute)
print('Second from Date = ', dt.second)
print('Microsecond from Date = ', dt.microsecond)
print('Weekday Number from Date = ', dt.weekday())
datetime class attributes output
Date = 2021-05-03 16:00:39.908339
Year from Date = 2021
Month from Date = 5
Day from Date = 3
Hour from Date = 16
Minute from Date = 0
Second from Date = 39
Microsecond from Date = 908339
Weekday Number from Date = 0The Python datetime module has the time class used to work or manipulate time values. Here, we used the time class to write the time from the current date and time. Next, we used the print statement to return the time parts using the available attributes hour, minute, second, and microsecond.
from datetime import datetime
time = datetime.time(datetime.now())
print('Current Time = ', time)
print('Hour from Current Time = ', time.hour)
print('Minute from Current Time = ', time.minute)
print('Second from Current Time = ', time.second)
print('Microsecond from Current Time = ', time.microsecond)
Python isoformat
The Python datetime class has the isoformat, which returns a string representation of a date in ISO 8601 format of YYYY-MM-DD
from datetime import datetime print(datetime.now()) print(datetime.now().isoformat())
datetime isoformat function output
2021-05-03 16:05:47.074065
2021-05-03T16:05:47.103824In all our previous datetime examples, we are working with the current date and time using now or today. However, you can use the date function to create a custom date. Here, we are using the custom date and returning it in iso format.
from datetime import date dt = date(2018, 1, 31) print(dt) print(dt.isoformat())
datetime isoformat function output
2018-01-31
2018-01-31Create Date and Time using Python datetime module
Using the datetime function to create a custom date. This function accepts year, month, day, hour, minute, second, and microsecond. Here, we used the first three to create a custom date
from datetime import datetime
dt = datetime(2017, 12, 31)
print('Date and Time = ', dt)
datetime function to create date and time
Date and Time = 2017-12-31 00:00:00It is another example to create a custom date using the datetime function.
import datetime
dt = datetime.datetime(2018, 12, 31)
print('Date and Time = ', dt)
dte = datetime.date(2018, 12, 31)
print('Date = ', dte)
datetime function to create a custom date
Date and Time = 2018-12-31 00:00:00
Date = 2018-12-31The first statement creates a custom date and time with zero hours. The second one creates a custom date and time, and the third one creates a custom date and time along with microseconds.
from datetime import datetime
dt = datetime(2014, 12, 31)
print('Date and Time = ', dt)
dt2 = datetime(2014, 12, 31, 22, 33, 44)
print('Date and Time = ', dt2)
dt3 = datetime(2016, 12, 31, 22, 33, 44, 123456)
print('Date and Time = ', dt3)
datetime function to create custom date and time output.
Date and Time = 2014-12-31 00:00:00
Date and Time = 2014-12-31 22:33:44
Date and Time = 2016-12-31 22:33:44.123456Python timestamp function
The Python timestamp function returns the POSIX timestamp of the given datetime. Here, we are returning the timestamp of the current date and time.
from datetime import datetime
dt = datetime.now()
print('Today\'s Date = ', dt)
print('Timestamp = ', dt.timestamp())
datetime timestamp function output
Today's Date = 2021-05-03 17:39:20.605253
Timestamp = 1620043760.605253Python utcfromtimestamp
The Python utcfromtimestamp method returns the UTC datetime from the given timestamp.
from datetime import datetime
tm_stamp = datetime.utcfromtimestamp(123456789)
print('Date = ', tm_stamp)
tm_stamp2 = datetime.utcfromtimestamp(482056789)
print('Date = ', tm_stamp2)
tm_stamp3 = datetime.utcfromtimestamp(19023456789)
print('Date = ', tm_stamp3)
tm_stamp4 = datetime.utcfromtimestamp(12761456789)
print('Date = ', tm_stamp4)
datetime utcfromtimestamp function output
Date = 1973-11-29 21:33:09
Date = 1985-04-11 08:39:49
Date = 2572-10-29 21:33:09
Date = 2374-05-25 01:06:29Python datetime replace
The Python replace function replaces the date and time parts with new values. The syntax of this Python datetime replace is
datetime.repalce(year = self.year, month = self.month, day = self.day, hour = self.hour, minute = self.minute, second = self.second, microsecond = self.microsecond, tzinfo = self.tzinfo)
We replaced hours, minutes, seconds, and microseconds from the current date and time.
from datetime import datetime
dt = datetime.now()
print('Date and Time = ', dt)
date_replace = dt.replace(hour = 2)
print('Date and Time = ', date_replace)
date_replace2 = dt.replace(minute = 59)
print('Date and Time = ', date_replace2)
date_replace3 = dt.replace(second = 4)
print('Date and Time = ', date_replace3)
date_replace4 = dt.replace(microsecond = 7)
print('Date and Time = ', date_replace4)
datetime replace function output
Date and Time = 2021-05-03 17:38:03.697423
Date and Time = 2021-05-03 02:38:03.697423
Date and Time = 2021-05-03 17:59:03.697423
Date and Time = 2021-05-03 17:38:04.697423
Date and Time = 2021-05-03 17:38:03.000007The following are the list of all the other attributes and functions available in Python datetime class.
from datetime import datetime
dt = datetime.now()
print('Date and Time = ', dt)
print('Replace in Date = ', dt.replace(hour = 2))
print('Tzinfo from Date = ', dt.tzinfo)
print('Tzname from Date = ', dt.tzname())
print('Timetz from Date = ', dt.timetz())
print('Timestamp from Date = ', dt.timestamp())
print('Time from Date = ', dt.ctime())
print('isoweekday from Date = ', dt.isoweekday())
print('astimezone from Date = ', dt.astimezone())
print('utcoffset from Date = ', dt.utcoffset())
print('Daylight Saving from Date = ', dt.dst())
Few more datetime class attributes output
Date and Time = 2021-05-03 17:37:16.992139
Replace in Date = 2021-05-03 02:37:16.992139
Tzinfo from Date = None
Tzname from Date = None
Timetz from Date = 17:37:16.992139
Timestamp from Date = 1620043636.992139
Time from Date = Mon May 3 17:37:16 2021
isoweekday from Date = 1
astimezone from Date = 2021-05-03 17:37:16.992139+05:30
utcoffset from Date = None
Daylight Saving from Date = NonePython datetime combine
The Python combine function returns a new datetime object by combining the given date value and time. The syntax of this Python combine is
datetime.combine(date, time, tzinfo = self.tzinfo)
First, we declared a custom date and a custom time. Next, we used the Python combine function to combine those objects and return the date and time. From that date and time, we are returning date and time parts using the available attributes.
import datetime
dt = datetime.date(2018, 12, 31)
tm = datetime.time(23, 59, 58)
combine_dt = datetime.datetime.combine(dt, tm)
print('Date = ', dt)
print('Time = ', tm)
print('Date and Time = ', combine_dt)
print('Year = ', combine_dt.year)
print('Month = ', combine_dt.month)
print('Day = ', combine_dt.day)
print('Hour = ', combine_dt.hour)
print('Minute = ', combine_dt.minute)
print('Second = ', combine_dt.second)
print('Microsecond = ', combine_dt.microsecond)
datetime combine function output
Date = 2018-12-31
Time = 23:59:58
Date and Time = 2018-12-31 23:59:58
Year = 2018
Month = 12
Day = 31
Hour = 23
Minute = 59
Second = 58
Microsecond = 0This example uses the combine function that combines the date and time. However, this time we are not providing the second’s value.
import datetime
dt = datetime.date(2018, 12, 31)
tm = datetime.time(23, 0)
combine_dt = datetime.datetime.combine(dt, tm)
print('Date = ', dt)
print('Time = ', tm)
print('Date and Time = ', combine_dt)
datetime combine function output 2
Date = 2018-12-31
Time = 23:00:00
Date and Time = 2018-12-31 23:00:00Python datetime Date class
The Python datetime module has the date class used to manipulate or work with dates. We use the Python today method to return the current date.
from datetime import date
dt = date.today()
print('Today\'s Date = ', dt)
datetime date today function output
Today's Date = 2021-05-03The Python date class in the datetime module has three important attributes.
- date.min: It returns the earliest or minimum representable date.
- date.max: Latest or maximum representable date.
- date.resolution: Smallest possible difference between continuous dates.
from datetime import date
print('Minimum Date = ', date.min)
print('Maximum Date = ', date.max)
print('Resolution = ', date.resolution)
datetime date min, max, and resolution functions output
Minimum Date = 0001-01-01
Maximum Date = 9999-12-31
Resolution = 1 day, 0:00:00Python date class attributes
This example shows the list of date attributes available in python. Here, year attribute returns the year from the current date, month = month number, day = day of the month, and weekday = weekday
from datetime import date
dt = date.today()
print('Today\'s Date = ', dt)
print('Year from Current Date = ', dt.year)
print('Month from Current Date = ', dt.month)
print('Day from Current Date = ', dt.day)
print('Weekday Number = ', dt.weekday())
datetime date class attribute output
Today's Date = 2021-05-03
Year from Current Date = 2021
Month from Current Date = 5
Day from Current Date = 3
Weekday Number = 0Create date using Python date
The date class in the datetime module has the date function to create a custom date from the year, month, and day of the month.
from datetime import date
dt = date(2018, 1, 31)
print('Date = ', dt)
Creating Date using datetime date class output
Date = 2018-01-31The Python fromtimestamp function accepts the POSIX timestamp value as an argument and returns the date from it.
from datetime import date
tm_stamp = date.fromtimestamp(123456789)
print('Date = ', tm_stamp)
tm_stamp2 = date.fromtimestamp(412056789)
print('Date = ', tm_stamp2)
tm_stamp3 = date.fromtimestamp(9123456789)
print('Date = ', tm_stamp3)
tm_stamp4 = date.fromtimestamp(8761456789)
print('Date = ', tm_stamp4)
datetime fromtimestamp function output
Date = 1973-11-30
Date = 1983-01-22
Date = 2259-02-10
Date = 2247-08-22datetime Time class
The Python datetime module has the time class, which helps us to work with the time and manipulate them. This example uses the Python time method to return 00:00:00.
from datetime import time
tt = time()
print('Time = ', tt)
datetime module time class output
Time = 00:00:00The Python time class in the datetime module has the following 3 important attributes.
- time.min: It returns the earliest or minimum representable time.
- time.max: Latest or maximum representable time.
- time.resolution: Smallest possible difference between time.
from datetime import time
print('Minimum Time = ', time.min)
print('Maximum Time = ', time.max)
print('Resolution = ', time.resolution)
Output of min, max, resolution functions in datetime time class
Minimum Time = 00:00:00
Maximum Time = 23:59:59.999999
Resolution = 0:00:00.000001Create Time using Python time
Here, we are using the time function to construct or create a time with 10 hours, 22 minutes, and 33 seconds
from datetime import time
tt = time(10, 22, 33)
print('Time = ', tt)
datetime module time function output to create time
Time = 10:22:33This Python time example is an extension of the above. Here, we are using the microseconds and the argument names as well.
from datetime import datetime, time
tme = datetime.time(datetime.now())
print('Current Time = ', tme)
tt = time()
print('Time = ', tt)
tt1 = time(10, 22, 45)
print('Time = ', tt1)
tt2 = time(11, 34, 49, 890765)
print('Time = ', tt2)
tt3 = time(hour = 17, minute = 11, second = 33)
print('Time = ', tt3)
tt4 = time(hour = 17, minute = 22, second = 55, microsecond = 223344)
print('Time = ', tt4)
datetime time function output
Current Time = 16:12:24.490551
Time = 00:00:00
Time = 10:22:45
Time = 11:34:49.890765
Time = 17:11:33
Time = 17:22:55.223344Python time attributes
This example shows the list of available time attributes in python. Here, hour attribute returns the Hour from a given time, minute, second, and microsecond
from datetime import time
tt = time(10, 50, 33)
print('Time = ', tt)
print('Hours = ', tt.hour)
print('Minutes = ', tt.minute)
print('Seconds = ', tt.second)
print('Microseconds = ', tt.microsecond)
datetime time attributes output
Time = 10:50:33
Hours = 10
Minutes = 50
Seconds = 33
Microseconds = 0Python date time timedelta
The datetime timedelta function predicts or return the past and future dates. In this example, we are returning the date and time after one year and two years before. Refer to Python timedelta.
from datetime import datetime, timedelta
dt = datetime.now()
print('Date and Time = ', dt)
future_dt = dt + timedelta(days = 365)
print('Future Date and Time = ', future_dt)
past_dt = dt - timedelta(days = 730)
print('Past Date and Time = ', past_dt)
datetime timedelta function output
Date and Time = 2021-05-03 16:10:47.540318
Future Date and Time = 2022-05-03 16:10:47.540318
Past Date and Time = 2019-05-04 16:10:47.540318Python date time strftime
The datetime strftime function formats the date in the specified format, and return the date as a string. Here, %Y-%m-%d’ means Year-Month-Day (2019-01-31). Refer to Python strftime.
from datetime import datetime
dt = datetime.now()
print('Date and Time = ', dt)
dt2 = dt.strftime('%Y-%m-%d')
print('Date and Time = ', dt2)
dt3 = dt.strftime('%Y/%m/%d %H:%M:%S %p')
print('Date and Time = ', dt3)
dt4 = dt.strftime('%B %d, %Y %I-%M-%S %p')
print('Date and Time = ', dt4)
datetime strftime output
Date and Time = 2021-05-03 16:10:09.093105
Date and Time = 2021-05-03
Date and Time = 2021/05/03 16:10:09 PM
Date and Time = May 03, 2021 04-10-09 PMPython strptime
The datetime strptime converts the string representation of the date to a regular date and time. Here, datetime.strptime(dt_str, ‘%d %B %Y’) means string date is passes in Day Month_Name Year format. Refer Python strptime.
from datetime import datetime
dt_str = '31 December 2017'
dt_value = datetime.strptime(dt_str, '%d %B %Y')
print('Date and Time = ', dt_value)
dt_str2 = '15/8/17 22:33:55'
dt_value2 = datetime.strptime(dt_str2, '%d/%m/%y %H:%M:%S')
print('Date and Time = ', dt_value2)
datetime strptime output
Date and Time = 2017-12-31 00:00:00
Date and Time = 2017-08-15 22:33:55