Standard Library

Python datetime Module

Python Date and Time Handling

Python datetime module handles dates, with strftime formatting.

Introduction to the datetime Module

The datetime module in Python allows you to create and manipulate date and time objects. It offers a variety of functions for date arithmetic, timezone conversions, and formatting with strftime. This module is part of the Python Standard Library, making it readily available for use in any Python environment.

Creating Date and Time Objects

To work with date and time in Python, you must first create datetime objects. The datetime module provides several classes, including date, time, datetime, and timedelta, each with its own purpose.

Formatting Dates and Times with strftime

The strftime method allows you to format date and time objects into readable strings. It uses format codes to specify the output format.

Date Arithmetic with timedelta

The timedelta class is used to perform arithmetic operations on dates and times. This can be useful for calculating future or past dates.

Using Time Zones with pytz

To handle timezone-aware dates and times, you can use the pytz module in conjunction with datetime. This allows you to convert between time zones easily.

Conclusion

The datetime module is a powerful tool for handling date and time in Python. With its support for arithmetic, formatting, and timezone manipulation, it is invaluable for applications that deal with time-sensitive data.