Generate a random date between two other dates

Time is ticking: Introducing precision

Shortening or lengthening the timeline is all about precise control. Let's dial up precision to the second:

random_second = random.randint(0, int((end_date - start_date).total_seconds()))  # Seconds...ticking away
random_date = start_date + timedelta(seconds=random_second)

print(random_date)  # Don't blink! You might miss it
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Here we call total_seconds() to compute the total duration in seconds and punch in random.randint to pick an exact second.

Leap Year: An extra day of fun

Leap years add a twist with their extra day on February 29th. Gotta count those!

year = start_date.year
leap_days = sum(1 for y in range(year, end_date.year + 1) if (y % 4 == 0 and y % 100 != 0) or (y % 400 == 0))  # Watch your leap!
total_days = (end_date - start_date).days + leap_days
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Leap_days make sure our random date generator doesn't skip the extra day of fun during leap years!

Faker or Radar: Pick your weapon

For random but convincing dates, modules like Faker or radar are a saving grace:

from faker import Faker
fake = Faker()

random_date = fake.date_between(start_date='-30y', end_date='today')  # Never mind my 30-year long existential crisis
print(random_date)  # Welcome to the past...or future
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Faker provides an arsenal of randomizers with just a few simple commands.

Different strokes for different folks: Varying time formats

It's crucial to embrace the diversity of date formats:

from datetime import datetime

date_string = "01-31-2020 14:45:37"  # Because why not?
date_format = "%m-%d-%Y %H:%M:%S"  # The secret lay in the format

# Convert string to datetime
converted_date = datetime.strptime(date_string, date_format)
print(converted_date)  # Hurray! We can read date in human language now
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Learning different formats adds robustness and prevents mishaps caused by minor irregularities in data inputs.

Unix to the rescue: Switching time formats

Working with Unix time? Switching between Unix time and human-readable dates is as smooth as butter:

import time

unix_timestamp = time.mktime(time.strptime(date_string, date_format))  # *Beep Boop* says the Unix machine
print(unix_timestamp)

human_readable_date = datetime.fromtimestamp(unix_timestamp)
print(human_readable_date)  # And we're back to English again!
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Formatting the outcome

After making dates dance, your output might need a certain swag. Use strftime:

formatted_date = random_date.strftime("%A, %B %d, %Y %I:%M:%S %p")
print(formatted_date)  # Dressed to impress!
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This changes our random_date from a boring string to an elegant, readable format.