Python date string to date object
In Python, you can convert date strings to datetime.date
objects quickly using datetime.strptime
with the proper string format. Don't forget to call .date()
to ensure it's a day, not a moment:
Managing different date formats
Date strings come in various patterns. Use format codes in strptime
to define the structured hint:
"%Y-%m-%d"
for "2023-04-12""%d/%m/%Y"
for "12/04/2023""%m/%d/%Y"
for "04/12/2023""%B %d, %Y"
for "April 12, 2023"
Pitfalls to avoid:
- Forgetting
.date()
canreturn
unwanted 00:00:00 time. - Format inconsistency can throw a party-ruining
ValueError
.
Handling irregular date formats
For handling diverse and bizarre date strings, take advantage of dateutil.parser.parse
:
While dateutil.parser.parse
can handle the flex, remember it defaults to a datetime
object – add .date()
to maintain calendar sanity!
Navigating around common errors
During parsing, a bevy of errors may appear:
- ValueError: Check your
strptime
format. - Locale errors: Keep an eye on locale settings for month and day names.
- Timezone blues: Handle
tzinfo
when usingdateutil.parser.parse
.
Ensuring conversion accuracy
Try out these assertions to ensure your date object is spot on:
Reversing the process: Date object to string
Need to reverse-engineer the object back into a string? Use strftime
!
Alter the format string to tailor it to your styling desires.
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