use python datetime.strptime

Question

I want to convert a string to a date format using Python datetime.strptime.

However, I set the format to '%m/%d/%y' but the result is '%Y-%m-%d%H:%M:%S'. What's the reason?

convert.py

date_str = ['11/10/2021', '12/15/2021', '2/26/2022', '3/10/2021', '3/10/2021', '3/11/2021']
replace_format = datetime.strptime(date_str, '%m/%d/%Y')

result

print(replace_format)
2022-03-14 00:00:00
2022-04-13 00:00:00
2022-05-11 00:00:00
2022-06-16 00:00:00
2022-06-18 00:00:00
2022-06-18 00:00:00

The default format of datetime, when you call print on it is used, which is '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'. You can use replace_format.strftime('%m/%d/%y') to achieve the desired format. — hoboman
– hoboman, Commented Jun 21, 2022 at 14:58
strptime parses a string to a datetime object. The datetime object's default representation (as a string) happens to be %Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S. But that's just a matter how it is displayed to you when you print it. — FObersteiner
– FObersteiner, Commented Jun 21, 2022 at 15:02
@hoboman Thanks! Actually, the result I want is '%Y-%m-%d%H:%M:%S'. Is there any problem if I keep setting this format to '%m/%d/%Y'? — JIN
– JIN, Commented Jun 21, 2022 at 15:10
@JIN This is just a representation of the underlying object. strftime does not change anything in the object, it is just a string representation of it. — hoboman
– hoboman, Commented Jun 21, 2022 at 15:45

JacobIRR · Accepted Answer · 2022-06-21 14:52:02Z

4

Call date():

from datetime import datetime

date_str = ['11/10/2021', '12/15/2021', '2/26/2022', '3/10/2021', '3/10/2021', '3/11/2021']
for d in date_str:
    replace_format = datetime.strptime(d, '%m/%d/%Y').date()
    print(replace_format)

Result:

Note: Your code did not compile for me in Python 3.7 so I put each item from the date list in a loop.

answered Jun 21, 2022 at 14:52

JacobIRR

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3 Comments

JIN Over a year ago

I set the format to '/', but why the output is '-' ?

JacobIRR Over a year ago

you can use string replace or just remove the slashes stackoverflow.com/q/29295402/4225229

Koul Over a year ago

your answer is misleading, could have used strftime('%m/%d/%Y') instead of date(), but we don't even know what OP wants to achieve

Koul · Accepted Answer · 2024-08-16 11:41:09Z

0

You didn't set the format by using strptime(), you are parsing it, i.e. converting string to datetime object.

datetime/date objects will always output YYYY-MM-DD without additional formatting

To output string from object with specific format, use strftime('%m/%d/%Y')

answered Aug 16, 2024 at 11:41

Koul

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