Tutorials
How to parse datetime format in python
If you have a datetime as a string you can transform it into a datetime object using the strptime method from datetime module in python.
Strptime receive to string parameters: date interpretation and date format:
#!/usr/bin/env python
from datetime import datetime
given_date = '11/23/2018 14:20:24'
date_object = datetime.strptime(given_date, '%m/%d/%Y %H:%M:%S')
If you want to change the date format on display, you'll have to use strftime (note f instead of p in the middle of the word)
shown_date = date_object.strftime('%Y-%M-%D %H:%M:%S')
Format Code List
The table below shows all the codes that you can pass to the strftime() method.
| Directive | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
%a |
Abbreviated weekday name. | Sun, Mon, ... |
%A |
Full weekday name. | Sunday, Monday, ... |
%w |
Weekday as a decimal number. | 0, 1, ..., 6 |
%d |
Day of the month as a zero-padded decimal. | 01, 02, ..., 31 |
%-d |
Day of the month as a decimal number. | 1, 2, ..., 30 |
%b |
Abbreviated month name. | Jan, Feb, ..., Dec |
%B |
Full month name. | January, February, ... |
%m |
Month as a zero-padded decimal number. | 01, 02, ..., 12 |
%-m |
Month as a decimal number. | 1, 2, ..., 12 |
%y |
Year without century as a zero-padded decimal number. | 00, 01, ..., 99 |
%-y |
Year without century as a decimal number. | 0, 1, ..., 99 |
%Y |
Year with century as a decimal number. | 2013, 2019 etc. |
%H |
Hour (24-hour clock) as a zero-padded decimal number. | 00, 01, ..., 23 |
%-H |
Hour (24-hour clock) as a decimal number. | 0, 1, ..., 23 |
%I |
Hour (12-hour clock) as a zero-padded decimal number. | 01, 02, ..., 12 |
%-I |
Hour (12-hour clock) as a decimal number. | 1, 2, ... 12 |
%p |
Locale’s AM or PM. | AM, PM |
%M |
Minute as a zero-padded decimal number. | 00, 01, ..., 59 |
%-M |
Minute as a decimal number. | 0, 1, ..., 59 |
%S |
Second as a zero-padded decimal number. | 00, 01, ..., 59 |
%-S |
Second as a decimal number. | 0, 1, ..., 59 |
%f |
Microsecond as a decimal number, zero-padded on the left. | 000000 - 999999 |
%z |
UTC offset in the form +HHMM or -HHMM. | |
%Z |
Time zone name. | |
%j |
Day of the year as a zero-padded decimal number. | 001, 002, ..., 366 |
%-j |
Day of the year as a decimal number. | 1, 2, ..., 366 |
%U |
Week number of the year (Sunday as the first day of the week). All days in a new year preceding the first Sunday are considered to be in week 0. | 00, 01, ..., 53 |
%W |
Week number of the year (Monday as the first day of the week). All days in a new year preceding the first Monday are considered to be in week 0. | 00, 01, ..., 53 |
%c |
Locale’s appropriate date and time representation. | Mon Sep 30 07:06:05 2013 |
%x |
Locale’s appropriate date representation. | 09/30/13 |
%X |
Locale’s appropriate time representation. | 07:06:05 |
%% |
A literal '%' character. | % |