Datetime current year and month in Python

Datetime object — a more detailed view

Creating a datetime object that only has the current year and month? Here's how it's done:

from datetime import datetime

current_year = datetime.now().year
current_month = datetime.now().month
year_month_obj = datetime(current_year, current_month, 1)
print(year_month_obj) # Fun Fact: Dates can't talk but they sure do tell!
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What's the output? A datetime object bearing the current year & month, and the day set to 1.

Simplified approach with Python's date

In cases where you want the date but not the time, Python's date module saves the day:

from datetime import date

today = date.today()
print(f"Year: {today.year}, Month: {today.month}") # Calendar's latest offering!
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Comparing dates is often a function of knowing the year and month. Using datetime attributes directly skirts unwanted string conversions and parsing with strftime and strptime.

Crafty formatting with strftime

Presenting a date aesthetically often necessitates formatting. strftime is the tool to sculpt a palatable string:

formatted_month = datetime.now().strftime('%B, %Y') # Transforms 'April, 2023' into something digestible!
print(f"Current Month in all its glory: {formatted_month}")
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Conversely, when you have a date string and wish to morph it into a datetime, strptime is your time wizard:

from datetime import datetime

date_string = "2023-04"
date_object = datetime.strptime(date_string, '%Y-%m')
print(date_object) # It's like casting a spell to flip a string into a date!
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Need for accurate padding

Accuracy in dealing with padded vs unpadded date components is paramount. January is 01, not 1. Keep your eyes peeled for padded (%m) and unpadded (%-m) directives, especially in precision-dependent systems.

The global standard — ISO 8601

For international applications, adhering to the ISO 8601 standard in representing dates and times is beneficial. Let's output the current date in ISO 8601 format using Python:

iso_date = datetime.now().isoformat()
print(f"Current date in ISO 8601: {iso_date}") # Now you're fluent in ISO 8601!
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