In Python, date and time are not built-in types but are handled using built-in datetime module. This module offers classes to efficiently work with dates, times and intervals, providing many useful methods. Date and DateTime are objects, so manipulating them means working with objects, not plain strings or timestamps.
Why do we need Datetime module?
- Helps work with dates and times in real-world applications like scheduling or logging.
- Allows easy calculation of differences between two dates or times.
- Supports formatting and parsing of date/time strings for user-friendly outputs.
- Useful for time-stamping events, files or data entries.
- Essential for handling time zones, durations and calendar-based operations.
Commonly used classes in datetime module
Class | Description |
|---|
date | Represents a date (year, month, day) in the Gregorian calendar |
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time | Represents a time independent of any date (hour, minute, second, microsecond, tzinfo) |
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datetime | Combines date and time (year, month, day, hour, minute, second, microsecond, tzinfo) |
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timedelta | Represents difference between two dates or times |
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tzinfo | Abstract base class for timezone information |
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timezone | Fixed offset timezone class (subclass of tzinfo) introduced in Python 3.2 |
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Date class
The date class provided by datetime module, is used to create and manipulate date objects. When an instance of this class is created, it represents a specific calendar date in ISO 8601 format: YYYY-MM-DD.
Syntax
class datetime.date(year, month, day)
Parameters:
- year: An integer between MINYEAR (usually 1) and MAXYEAR (usually 9999).
- month: An integer from 1 (January) to 12 (December).
- day: An integer valid for the specified month and year (e.g., 28 or 29 for February, depending on leap year).
Important Notes
- Providing invalid types (e.g., string instead of int) raises a TypeError.
- Providing out-of-range values raises a ValueError.
- The date object does not include time or timezone information — for that, use datetime.depending on leap year).
Example 1: Creating a Date Object
Python
from datetime import date
d = date(1996, 12, 11)
print(d)
Example 2: Get Current Date
Python
from datetime import date
t = date.today()
print(t)
Example 3: Accessing Year, Month and Day Attributes
Python
from datetime import date
t = date.today()
print(t.year)
print(t.month)
print(t.day)
Example 4: Create Date from Timestamp
Python
from datetime import datetime
date_time = datetime.fromtimestamp(1887639468)
print(date_time)
print(date_time.date())
Output2029-10-25 16:17:48
2029-10-25
Example 5: Convert Date to String
Python
from datetime import date
t = date.today()
date_str = t.isoformat()
print(date_str)
print(type(date_str))
Output2025-07-26
<class 'str'>
Important Date Class Methods
| Function Name | Description |
|---|
| ctime() | Return a string representing the date |
| fromisocalendar() | Returns a date corresponding to the ISO calendar |
| fromisoformat() | Returns a date object from the string representation of the date |
| fromordinal() | Returns a date object from the proleptic Gregorian ordinal, where January 1 of year 1 has ordinal 1 |
| fromtimestamp() | Returns a date object from the POSIX timestamp |
| isocalendar() | Returns a tuple year, week, and weekday |
| isoformat() | Returns the string representation of the date |
| isoweekday() | Returns the day of the week as an integer where Monday is 1 and Sunday is 7 |
| replace() | Changes the value of the date object with the given parameter |
| strftime() | Returns a string representation of the date with the given format |
| timetuple() | Returns an object of type time.struct_time |
| today() | Returns the current local date |
| toordinal() | Return the proleptic Gregorian ordinal of the date, where January 1 of year 1 has ordinal 1 |
| weekday() | Returns the day of the week as integer where Monday is 0 and Sunday is 6 |
Time class
The time class in Python represents a specific time of day, independent of any particular date. It is used to create time objects that include hour, minute, second, microsecond and timezone information.
Syntax
class datetime.time(hour=0, minute=0, second=0, microsecond=0, tzinfo=None)
All the arguments are optional. tzinfo can be None otherwise all the attributes must be integer in following range -
- 0 <= hour < 24
- 0 <= minute < 60
- 0 <= second < 60
- 0 <= microsecond < 1000000
Example 1: Time object representing time in Python
Python
from datetime import time
# Create time object with hour, minute and second
my_time = time(13, 24, 56)
print("Entered time:", my_time)
# Time object with only minute specified
my_time = time(minute=12)
print("Time with one argument:", my_time)
# Time object with default (00:00:00)
my_time = time()
print("Time without argument:", my_time)
# time(hour=26) → ValueError: hour must be in 0..23
# time(hour='23') → TypeError: string passed instead of int
OutputEntered time: 13:24:56
Time with one argument: 00:12:00
Time without argument: 00:00:00
Example 2: Get hours, minutes, seconds and microseconds
After creating a time object, its attributes can also be printed separately.
Python
from datetime import time
Time = time(11, 34, 56)
print("hour =", Time.hour)
print("minute =", Time.minute)
print("second =", Time.second)
print("microsecond =", Time.microsecond)
Outputhour = 11
minute = 34
second = 56
microsecond = 0
Example 3: Convert Time object to String
We can convert time object to string using isoformat() method.
Python
from datetime import time
# Creating Time object
Time = time(12,24,36,1212)
# Converting Time object to string
Str = Time.isoformat()
print("String Representation:", Str)
print(type(Str))
OutputString Representation: 12:24:36.001212
<class 'str'>
List of Time class Methods
| Function Name | Description |
|---|
| dst() | Returns tzinfo.dst() is tzinfo is not None |
| fromisoformat() | Returns a time object from the string representation of the time |
| isoformat() | Returns the string representation of time from the time object |
| replace() | Changes the value of the time object with the given parameter |
| strftime() | Returns a string representation of the time with the given format |
| tzname() | Returns tzinfo.tzname() is tzinfo is not None |
| utcoffset() | Returns tzinfo.utcffsets() is tzinfo is not None |
Datetime class
The datetime class represents both date and time components in a single object. It combines features of the date and time classes, allowing to work with complete timestamps. It uses Gregorian calendar and assumes 24-hour days with exactly 86,400 seconds.
Syntax
class datetime.datetime(year, month, day, hour=0, minute=0, second=0, microsecond=0, tzinfo=None)
The year, month and day arguments are mandatory. tzinfo can be None, rest all attributes must be an integer in following range -
- MINYEAR <= year <= MAXYEAR
- 1 <= month <= 12
- 1 <= day <= number of days in the given month and year
- 0 <= hour < 24
- 0 <= minute < 60
- 0 <= second < 60
- 0 <= microsecond < 1000000
Note - Passing an argument other than integer will raise a TypeError and passing arguments outside the range will raise ValueError.
Example 1: DateTime object representing DateTime in Python
Python
from datetime import datetime
# Initializing constructor
a = datetime(1999, 12, 12)
print(a)
# Initializing constructor with time parameters as well
a = datetime(1999, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 342380)
print(a)
Output1999-12-12 00:00:00
1999-12-12 12:12:12.342380
Example 2: Get year, month, hour, minute and timestamp
After creating a DateTime object, its attributes can also be printed separately.
Python
from datetime import datetime
a = datetime(1999, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12)
print("year =", a.year)
print("month =", a.month)
print("hour =", a.hour)
print("minute =", a.minute)
print("timestamp =", a.timestamp())
Outputyear = 1999
month = 12
hour = 12
minute = 12
timestamp = 945000732.0
Example 3: Current date and time
You can print current date and time using Datetime.now() function. now() function returns current local date and time.
Python
from datetime import datetime
# Calling now() function
today = datetime.now()
print("Current date and time is", today)
OutputCurrent date and time is 2025-07-26 05:24:55.959180
Example 4: Convert Python Datetime to String
We can convert Datetime to string in Python using datetime.strftime and datetime.isoformat methods.
Python
from datetime import datetime as dt
# Getting current date and time
now = dt.now()
string = dt.isoformat(now)
print(string)
print(type(string))
Output2025-07-26T05:25:45.477917
<class 'str'>
List of Datetime Class Methods
| Function Name | Description |
|---|
| astimezone() | Returns the DateTime object containing timezone information. |
| combine() | Combines the date and time objects and return a DateTime object |
| ctime() | Returns a string representation of date and time |
| date() | Return the Date class object |
| fromisoformat() | Returns a datetime object from the string representation of the date and time |
| fromordinal() | Returns a date object from the proleptic Gregorian ordinal, where January 1 of year 1 has ordinal 1. The hour, minute, second, and microsecond are 0 |
| fromtimestamp() | Return date and time from POSIX timestamp |
| isocalendar() | Returns a tuple year, week, and weekday |
| isoformat() | Return the string representation of date and time |
| isoweekday() | Returns the day of the week as integer where Monday is 1 and Sunday is 7 |
| now() | Returns current local date and time with tz parameter |
| replace() | Changes the specific attributes of the DateTime object |
| strftime() | Returns a string representation of the DateTime object with the given format |
| strptime() | Returns a DateTime object corresponding to the date string |
| time() | Return the Time class object |
| timetuple() | Returns an object of type time.struct_time |
| timetz() | Return the Time class object |
| today() | Return local DateTime with tzinfo as None |
| toordinal() | Return the proleptic Gregorian ordinal of the date, where January 1 of year 1 has ordinal 1 |
| tzname() | Returns the name of the timezone |
| utcfromtimestamp() | Return UTC from POSIX timestamp |
| utcoffset() | Returns the UTC offset |
| utcnow() | Return current UTC date and time |
| weekday() | Returns the day of the week as integer where Monday is 0 and Sunday is 6 |
Timedelta Class
Python timedelta class is used for calculating differences in dates and also can be used for date manipulations in Python. It is one of easiest ways to perform date manipulations.
Syntax
class datetime.timedelta(days=0, seconds=0, microseconds=0, milliseconds=0, minutes=0, hours=0, weeks=0)
All parameters are optional and can be used in any combination
Example 1: Add days to DateTime object
The timedelta function demonstration
Python
from datetime import datetime, timedelta
# Get the current date and time
now = datetime.now()
print("Current Date & Time:", now)
# Add 2 years (approx. 730 days)
after_2_years = now + timedelta(days=730)
print("After 2 Years:", after_2_years)
# Add 2 days
after_2_days = now + timedelta(days=2)
print("After 2 Days:", after_2_days)
OutputCurrent Date & Time: 2025-07-26 05:38:58.395824
After 2 Years: 2027-07-26 05:38:58.395824
After 2 Days: 2025-07-28 05:38:58.395824
Example 2: Difference between two date and times
Date and Time differences can also be found using this class.
Python
from datetime import datetime, timedelta
# Current date and time
now = datetime.now()
print("Current Time:", now)
# New time after 2 days
new_time = now + timedelta(days=2)
print("New Time (+2 days):", new_time)
# Time difference
print("Time Difference:", new_time - now)
OutputCurrent Time: 2025-07-26 05:40:17.572931
New Time (+2 days): 2025-07-28 05:40:17.572931
Time Difference: 2 days, 0:00:00
Operations supported by Timedelta Class
| Operator | Description |
|---|
| Addition (+) | Adds and returns two timedelta objects |
| Subtraction (-) | Subtracts and returns two timedelta objects |
| Multiplication (*) | Multiplies timedelta object with float or int |
| Division (/) | Divides the timedelta object with float or int |
| Floor division (//) | Divides the timedelta object with float or int and return the int of floor value of the output |
| Modulo (%) | Divides two timedelta object and returns the remainder |
| +(timedelta) | Returns the same timedelta object |
| -(timedelta) | Returns the resultant of -1*timedelta |
| abs(timedelta) | Returns the +(timedelta) if timedelta.days > 1=0 else returns -(timedelta) |
| str(timedelta) | Returns a string in the form (+/-) day[s], HH:MM:SS.UUUUUU |
| repr(timedelta) | Returns the string representation in the form of the constructor call |
Tzinfo class
The tzinfo class in Python is an abstract base for handling time zone info in datetime objects. It can't be used directly instead, subclasses or libraries provide actual time zone support for accurate date-time calculations.
Note: tzinfo is an abstract base class, so it is not meant to be instantiated directly. Instead, create a subclass of tzinfo and implement its required methods like utcoffset(), dst() and tzname().
Example:
This example shows how to get system time zone and convert a naive datetime into an aware one using dateutil.tz.gettz() with "Europe/Berlin" time zone.
Python
import datetime as dt
from dateutil import tz
# Get system's local time zone name
tz_string = dt.datetime.now(dt.timezone.utc).astimezone().tzname()
print("System Time Zone:", tz_string)
# Assigning timezone using dateutil
berlin = tz.gettz('Europe/Berlin')
dt1 = dt.datetime(2022, 5, 21, 12, 0)
dt2 = dt.datetime(2022, 12, 21, 12, 0, tzinfo=berlin)
print("Naive Object:", dt1.tzname())
print("Aware Object:", dt2.tzname())
OutputSystem Time Zone: UTC
Naive Object: None
Aware Object: CET
Explanation:
- dt.datetime.now(dt.timezone.utc).astimezone().tzname(): gets system’s current time zone name by converting UTC time to local time zone.
- berlin = tz.gettz('Europe/Berlin'): fetches time zone information for Europe/Berlin.
- tzname() returns name of time zone for a given datetime object
List of Python DateTime.tzinfo() Objects
| Function Name | Description |
|---|
| dst() | Returns tzinfo.dst() is tzinfo is not None |
| fromutc() | The purpose of this function is to adjust the date time data,
returning an equivalent DateTime in self’s local time. |
| tzname() | Returns tzinfo.tzname() is tzinfo is not None |
| utcoffset() | Returns tzinfo.utcffsets() is tzinfo is not None |
Timezone class
Timezones in Python's datetime module help display time for different regions. The pytz module allows easy conversion between timezones, making it useful for apps with international users.
Syntax
timezone(offset, name=None)
Parameter:
- offset: A timedelta object (e.g., timedelta(hours=5, minutes=30)).
- name: Optional string name for the timezone (e.g., "IST").
Example:
This code shows how to get current UTC time and convert it to different time zones using pytz module. It prints time in UTC, Asia/Kolkata, Europe/Kiev and America/New_York using a consistent format.
Python
from datetime import datetime
from pytz import timezone
format = "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S %Z%z"
now_utc = datetime.now(timezone('UTC')) # Current time in UTC
print(now_utc.strftime(format))
timezones = ['Asia/Kolkata', 'Europe/Kiev', 'America/New_York']
for tzone in timezones:
now_asia = now_utc.astimezone(timezone(tzone)) # Convert to Asia/Kolkata time zone
print(now_asia.strftime(format))
Output2025-07-26 06:25:28 UTC+0000
2025-07-26 11:55:28 IST+0530
2025-07-26 09:25:28 EEST+0300
2025-07-26 02:25:28 EDT-0400
Explanation:
- "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S %Z%z": Defines format for displaying date and time including time zone name (%Z) and UTC offset (%z).
- datetime.now(timezone('UTC'): Gets current date and time in UTC by attaching UTC time zone to current datetime.
- now_utc.strftime(format): prints current UTC time formatted according to specified pattern.
- now_utc.astimezone(timezone(tzone)): converts UTC time to current time zone (tzone).
