Working with Dates and Time

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Working with Dates and Time in Python

Python provides the datetime and time modules to work with dates, times, and timestamps efficiently.

1. Importing the Modules

import datetime
import time

2. Current Date and Time

from datetime import datetime

now = datetime.now()
print(now)               # 2025-11-26 14:30:45.123456
print(now.date())        # 2025-11-26
print(now.time())        # 14:30:45.123456

3. Creating Specific Dates and Times

from datetime import date, time

d = date(2025, 12, 31)
t = time(15, 45, 30)
print(d)  # 2025-12-31
print(t)  # 15:45:30

4. Formatting Dates and Times

• Use strftime() to convert datetime objects to formatted strings.

• Use strptime() to convert strings to datetime objects.

now = datetime.now()

# Formatting
print(now.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S"))  # 2025-11-26 14:30:45
print(now.strftime("%A, %B %d, %Y"))      # Tuesday, November 26, 2025

# Parsing string to datetime
date_str = "2025-12-31 23:59:59"
dt_obj = datetime.strptime(date_str, "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
print(dt_obj)  # 2025-12-31 23:59:59

5. Date Arithmetic

• Use timedelta for adding or subtracting days, hours, etc.

from datetime import timedelta

today = datetime.now()
tomorrow = today + timedelta(days=1)
yesterday = today - timedelta(days=1)

print(tomorrow)
print(yesterday)

# Adding hours or minutes
future = today + timedelta(hours=5, minutes=30)
print(future)

6. Working with Timestamps

• Convert datetime to timestamp and back.

now = datetime.now()
timestamp = now.timestamp()
print(timestamp)  # 1764355845.123456

dt_from_ts = datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp)
print(dt_from_ts)  # 2025-11-26 14:30:45.123456

7. Time Module (Optional)

• time.sleep(seconds) → pause execution

• time.time() → current timestamp

• time.localtime() → current local time tuple

• time.gmtime() → current UTC time tuple

import time

print(time.time())           # 1764355845.123456
time.sleep(2)                # pauses for 2 seconds
print(time.localtime())

8. Key Points

• Use datetime for date and time objects.

• Use timedelta for date arithmetic.

• strftime formats datetime as string; strptime parses strings.

• time module handles timestamps, delays, and low-level time operations.

• Useful for scheduling, logging, and date calculations.