Python Program to Format time in AM-PM format

In Python, we can format time in AM/PM (12-hour) format using built-in functions like strftime() and datetime.now(). The AM/PM format is commonly used in user interfaces, reports, documents, data visualization, and event scheduling. AM represents time from midnight (00:00) to 11:59, while PM represents time from noon (12:00) to 11:59 PM.

Syntax

The basic syntax for formatting time in AM/PM format is ?

strftime('%I:%M:%S %p')

The strftime() function uses format codes to represent different time components:

  • %I ? Hours in 12-hour format (01-12)

  • %M ? Minutes (00-59)

  • %S ? Seconds (00-59)

  • %p ? AM/PM indicator

Converting 24-Hour Format to AM/PM

This example converts a time string from 24-hour format to 12-hour AM/PM format ?

from datetime import datetime

t_str = '22:45:32'
t_obj = datetime.strptime(t_str, '%H:%M:%S')

# Convert to AM/PM format
t_am_pm = t_obj.strftime('%I:%M:%S %p')

print("The given time:", t_str)
print("The format in (AM/PM):", t_am_pm)
The given time: 22:45:32
The format in (AM/PM): 10:45:32 PM

Getting Current Time in AM/PM Format

This example displays the current time in AM/PM format ?

from datetime import datetime

dt_obj = datetime.now()
ts_am_pm = dt_obj.strftime('%I:%M:%S %p')

print("The current time:", dt_obj)
print("The format in (AM/PM):", ts_am_pm)
The current time: 2023-04-18 17:50:01.963742
The format in (AM/PM): 05:50:01 PM

Using a Function for Time Formatting

This example creates a reusable function to format time in AM/PM format ?

from datetime import datetime

def format_time(time_obj):
    return time_obj.strftime('%I:%M %p')

current_time = datetime.now()
formatted_time = format_time(current_time)

print("Time in AM/PM:", formatted_time)
Time in AM/PM: 06:04 PM

Using the time Module

This example uses the time module to format the current time in AM/PM format ?

import time

present_time = time.localtime()
t_format = time.strftime("%I:%M %p", present_time)

print("Current time in AM/PM:", t_format)
Current time in AM/PM: 06:18 PM

Format Code Comparison

Format Code Description Example Output
%I 12-hour format (01-12) 01, 02, ... 12
%H 24-hour format (00-23) 00, 01, ... 23
%M Minutes (00-59) 00, 30, 59
%p AM/PM indicator AM, PM

Conclusion

Python's strftime() function makes it easy to format time in AM/PM format using format codes like %I, %M, %S, and %p. You can use either the datetime or time module depending on your specific needs.

Updated on: 2026-03-27T07:09:00+05:30

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