strptime() in Python

What is a strptime in Python?

strptime() function is used to convert a given string into datetime.

This function is available in dateTime and time modules to parse a string to datetime ans time modules to parse a string to datetime and time objects respectively.

In this tutorial, we will see specific examples of strptime( function to convert string to DateTime and time objects.

Syntax:-

datetime.strptime(date_string, format)

date_string → is the time present in string format.
format →Where format is the desired format of the 
date string that user wants. Format is built using 
codes shown in the below image

Example 1: string to datetime object 

Python Code

from datetime import datetime
input_string = "MAY 22, 2020"
print("type of input_string  =", type(input_string))
print("given_input_string  =", input_string)

datetime = datetime.strptime(input_string, "%B %d, %Y")

print("type of input_string  =", type(datetime))
print("datetime =", datetime)

Output:

type of input_string = <class ‘str’>
given_input_string = MAY 22, 2020
type of input_string = <class ‘datetime.datetime’>
datetime = 2020-05-22 00:00:00

Example 2 :- date is in dd/mm/yyyy format

Code:

Python Code

from datetime import datetime
input_string = "12/11/2018 09:15:32"

datetime = datetime.strptime(input_string, "%d/%m/%Y %H:%M:%S")

print("datetime =", datetime)

Output:

datetime = 2018-11-12 09:15:32

Example 3:- date is in mm/dd/yyyy format

Code:

Python Code

from datetime import datetime

input_string = "04/05/2003 10:36:21"

datetime = datetime.strptime(input_string, "%m/%d/%Y %H:%M:%S")
print("datetime =", datetime)

Output:

datetime = 2003-04-05 10:36:21

ValueError in strptime()

Code:

Python Code

from datetime import datetime

input_string = "11/MAY/2022"
datetime = datetime.strptime(input_string, "%m %d %Y")

print("datetime =", datetime)

Output:

raise ValueError(“time data %r does not match format %r” %

ValueError: time data ’11/MAY/2022′ does not match format ‘%m %d %Y’

Special thanks to JAIGANESH R S for contributing to this article on takeUforward. If you also wish to share your knowledge with the takeUforward fam, please check out this articleIf you want to suggest any improvement/correction in this article please mail us at [email protected]