Python Date and Time Tutorial – Complete Guide with Examples

Python - Date and Time 

Working with date and time is very important in programming. Whether you are building websites, apps, or automation tools, you often need to handle current time, scheduling, logs, or time differences.

Python provides a built-in module called datetime to work with dates and times easily.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to use Python date and time features with simple examples.

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What is Date and Time in Python?

Date and time in Python are handled using:

The datetime module, which provides classes for working with dates, times, and time intervals.

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Importing Date and Time Module

import datetime

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Get Current Date and Time

import datetime

now = datetime.datetime.now()
print("Current Date and Time:", now)

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Output Example

Current Date and Time: 2026-06-08 13:45:12.123456

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Get Current Date Only

import datetime

today = datetime.date.today()
print("Today Date:", today)

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Get Current Time Only

import datetime

current_time = datetime.datetime.now().time()
print("Current Time:", current_time)

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Formatting Date and Time

We can format date and time using strftime().

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Example

import datetime

now = datetime.datetime.now()

formatted = now.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
print("Formatted:", formatted)

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Common Format Codes

Code	Meaning
%Y	Year (2026)
%m	Month (01–12)
%d	Day (01–31)
%H	Hour (00–23)
%M	Minute
%S	Second

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Creating Custom Date

import datetime

d = datetime.date(2025, 12, 25)
print("Custom Date:", d)

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Creating Custom Date and Time

import datetime

dt = datetime.datetime(2025, 12, 25, 10, 30, 0)
print("Custom DateTime:", dt)

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Working with Time Difference

We use timedelta for calculations.

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Example

import datetime

now = datetime.datetime.now()
future = now + datetime.timedelta(days=7)

print("After 7 days:", future)

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Time Difference Calculation

import datetime

start = datetime.datetime(2026, 1, 1)
end = datetime.datetime(2026, 1, 10)

diff = end - start
print("Difference:", diff.days, "days")

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What is timedelta?

timedelta represents:

The difference between two dates or times.

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Real-World Example: Age Calculator

import datetime

birth_year = 2000
current_year = datetime.datetime.now().year

age = current_year - birth_year
print("Age:", age)

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Real-World Example: Countdown Timer

import datetime
import time

target = datetime.datetime(2026, 12, 31, 0, 0, 0)

while True:
    now = datetime.datetime.now()
    remaining = target - now

    print("Time left:", remaining)

    time.sleep(1)

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Working with Timestamps

import datetime

timestamp = datetime.datetime.now().timestamp()
print("Timestamp:", timestamp)

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Convert Timestamp to DateTime

import datetime

ts = 1700000000
dt = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(ts)

print("DateTime:", dt)

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Why Date and Time is Important

• Logging events
• Scheduling tasks
• User activity tracking
• File timestamps
• Notifications and reminders

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Best Practices

1. Always use datetime module

Avoid manual date calculations.

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2. Use strftime for formatting

Makes output readable.

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3. Use timedelta for calculations

More reliable than manual math.

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4. Be careful with timezones (advanced)

Use pytz or zoneinfo.

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Common Mistakes

1. Confusing date and datetime

# date vs datetime are different

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2. Ignoring formatting

Raw datetime is hard to read.

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3. Manual time calculations

Can lead to errors.

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Summary

Python’s datetime module makes it easy to work with dates and times. You can get current time, format it, create custom dates, and perform calculations using timedelta.

Key Takeaways

• Use datetime module for all time operations
• now() gives current date and time
• strftime() formats output
• timedelta handles time differences
• Useful for real-world applications like scheduling and logging

Mastering date and time handling is essential for building real-world Python applications.