Python program to display various datetime formats

The datetime module in Python provides powerful classes for manipulating dates and times. The strftime() method allows you to format dates and times in various ways using format codes.

Basic Date Formatting

Let's start with common date formats using format codes ?

import datetime

today = datetime.date.today()

print("Day of the week:", today.strftime("%A"))
print("Week number:", today.strftime("%W"))
print("Day of the year:", today.strftime("%j"))

Day of the week: Monday
Week number: 47
Day of the year: 332

Various Date and Time Formats

Here are more formatting options with complete date and time ?

import datetime

now = datetime.datetime.now()

print("Full date and time:", now.strftime("%A, %B %d, %Y %I:%M:%S %p"))
print("Short date:", now.strftime("%m/%d/%Y"))
print("ISO format:", now.strftime("%Y-%m-%d"))
print("Time 24-hour:", now.strftime("%H:%M:%S"))
print("Time 12-hour:", now.strftime("%I:%M:%S %p"))
print("Month name:", now.strftime("%B"))
print("Abbreviated month:", now.strftime("%b"))
print("Abbreviated weekday:", now.strftime("%a"))

Full date and time: Monday, November 28, 2023 02:30:45 PM
Short date: 11/28/2023
ISO format: 2023-11-28
Time 24-hour: 14:30:45
Time 12-hour: 02:30:45 PM
Month name: November
Abbreviated month: Nov
Abbreviated weekday: Mon

Common Format Codes

Practical Example

Create a formatted timestamp for logging or file naming ?

import datetime

now = datetime.datetime.now()

# For logging
log_format = now.strftime("[%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S] INFO: Process completed")
print(log_format)

# For file naming
file_format = now.strftime("backup_%Y%m%d_%H%M%S.txt")
print("Filename:", file_format)

# User-friendly format
friendly_format = now.strftime("Today is %A, %B %d, %Y at %I:%M %p")
print(friendly_format)

[2023-11-28 14:30:45] INFO: Process completed
Filename: backup_20231128_143045.txt
Today is Monday, November 28, 2023 at 02:30 PM

Conclusion

The strftime() method provides flexible date and time formatting using format codes. Use %A for weekday names, %j for day of year, and %W for week numbers. Combine multiple codes to create custom formats for logging, file naming, or user display.