Python datetime Module

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Python datetime Module

Python does not have a standalone date data type. Instead, it provides the powerful datetime module, which allows you to work with dates, times, and timestamps using dedicated objects.

To begin working with dates, you must first import the module.

Getting the Current Date and Time

You can retrieve the current local date and time using the now() method.

Example: Display the Current Timestamp

from datetime import datetime current_time = datetime.now() print("Current date and time:", current_time)

Output:

Current date and time: 2026-03-31 10:45:19.123456

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This output includes:

    • Year

    • Month

    • Day

    • Hour

    • Minute

    • Second

    • Microsecond

Extracting Date Components

A datetime object provides easy access to individual date and time values.

Example: Get Year and Weekday

from datetime import datetime today = datetime.now() print("Year:", today.year) print("Weekday:", today.strftime("%A"))

Output:

Year: 2026
Weekday: Tuesday

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    • year returns the numeric year

    • strftime("%A") returns the full weekday name

Creating Custom Date Objects

You can create your own date and time values using the datetime() constructor.

Required Parameters

    • year

    • month

    • day

Optional Parameters

    • hour

    • minute

    • second

    • microsecond

    • Tzinfo

Example: Create a Specific Date

from datetime import datetime event_date = datetime(2024, 12, 25) print("Event date:", event_date)

Output:

Event date: 2024-12-25 00:00:00

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If time values are not provided, they default to 00:00:00.

Example: Create a Date with Time

from datetime import datetime meeting = datetime(2025, 3, 10, 14, 30) print("Meeting scheduled at:", meeting)

Output:

Meeting scheduled at: 2025-03-10 14:30:00

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Formatting Dates with strftime()

The strftime() method converts a datetime object into a human-readable string using format codes.

Example: Display Month Name

from datetime import datetime sample_date = datetime(2023, 11, 15) formatted = sample_date.strftime("%B") print("Month:", formatted)

Output:

Month: November

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Common strftime() Format Codes

Code	Meaning	Example
%a	Weekday (short)	Tue
%A	Weekday (full)	Tuesday
%d	Day of month	09
%b	Month (short)	Nov
%B	Month (full)	November
%m	Month number	11
%y	Year (2 digits)	25
%Y	Year (4 digits)	2025
%H	Hour (24-hour)	18
%I	Hour (12-hour)	06
%p	AM / PM	PM
%M	Minute	45
%S	Second	30
%f	Microsecond	123456
%j	Day of the year	320
%U	Week number (Sunday start)	47
%W	Week number (Monday start)	47
%c	Full date & time	Tue Nov 15 18:45:30 2025
%x	Local date	11/15/25
%X	Local time	18:45:30
%%	Percent symbol	%

Python strftime() Format Codes – Complete Examples

We’ll use this datetime object in all examples:

from datetime import datetime dt = datetime(2025, 11, 15, 18, 45, 30, 123456)

Weekday Formats

from datetime import datetime dt = datetime(2025, 11, 15, 18, 45, 30, 123456) print(dt.strftime("%a")) # Tue print(dt.strftime("%A")) # Tuesday

Output:

Tue
Tuesday

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    • %a → Short weekday name

    • %A → Full weekday name

Day of Month

from datetime import datetime dt = datetime(2025, 11, 15, 18, 45, 30, 123456) print(dt.strftime("%d")) # 15

Output:

15

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    • %d → Day of the month (01–31)

Month Formats

from datetime import datetime dt = datetime(2025, 11, 15, 18, 45, 30, 123456) print(dt.strftime("%b")) # Nov print(dt.strftime("%B")) # November print(dt.strftime("%m")) # 11

Output:

Nov
November
11

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    • %b → Short month name

    • %B → Full month name

    • %m → Month number

Year Formats

from datetime import datetime dt = datetime(2025, 11, 15, 18, 45, 30, 123456) print(dt.strftime("%y")) # 25 print(dt.strftime("%Y")) # 2025

Output:

25
2025

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    • %y → Year (2 digits)

    • %Y → Year (4 digits)

Hour Formats

from datetime import datetime dt = datetime(2025, 11, 15, 18, 45, 30, 123456) print(dt.strftime("%H")) # 18 print(dt.strftime("%I")) # 06 print(dt.strftime("%p")) # PM

Output:

18
06
PM

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    • %H → Hour (24-hour format)

    • %I → Hour (12-hour format)

    • %p → AM / PM

Minute, Second, Microsecond

from datetime import datetime dt = datetime(2025, 11, 15, 18, 45, 30, 123456) print(dt.strftime("%M")) # 45 print(dt.strftime("%S")) # 30 print(dt.strftime("%f")) # 123456

Output:

45
30
123456

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    • %M → Minutes

    • %S → Seconds

    • %f → Microseconds

Day & Week Information

from datetime import datetime dt = datetime(2025, 11, 15, 18, 45, 30, 123456) print(dt.strftime("%j")) # 319 print(dt.strftime("%U")) # 46 print(dt.strftime("%W")) # 46

Output:

319
46
46

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    • %j → Day of the year

    • %U → Week number (Sunday as first day)

    • %W → Week number (Monday as first day)

Full Date & Time Formats

from datetime import datetime dt = datetime(2025, 11, 15, 18, 45, 30, 123456) print(dt.strftime("%c")) # Tue Nov 15 18:45:30 2025 print(dt.strftime("%x")) # 11/15/25 print(dt.strftime("%X")) # 18:45:30

Output:

Tue Nov 15 18:45:30 2025
11/15/25
18:45:30

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    • %c → Full date and time

    • %x → Local date

    • %X → Local time

Percent Symbol

from datetime import datetime dt = datetime(2025, 11, 15, 18, 45, 30, 123456) print(dt.strftime("%%")) # %

Output:

%

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    • %% → Prints a literal % symbol

Real-World Example (Bonus)

from datetime import datetime dt = datetime(2025, 11, 15, 18, 45, 30, 123456) formatted_date = dt.strftime("%A, %d %B %Y %I:%M %p") print(formatted_date)

Output:

Tuesday, 15 November 2025 06:45 PM

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