# Python strptime() **In this article, you will learn to create a datetime object from a string (with the help of examples).** The `strptime()` method creates a [datetime](https://www.programiz.com/python-programming/datetime#datetime) object from the given string. **Note:** You cannot create `datetime` object from every string. The string needs to be in a certain format. ### Example 1: string to datetime object ``` from datetime import datetime date_string = "21 June, 2018" print("date_string =", date_string) print("type of date_string =", type(date_string)) date_object = datetime.strptime(date_string, "%d %B, %Y") print("date_object =", date_object) print("type of date_object =", type(date_object)) ``` When you run the program, the output will be: ``` date_string = 21 June, 2018 type of date_string = date_object = 2018-06-21 00:00:00 type of date_object = ``` #### How strptime() works? The `strptime()` class method takes two arguments: * string (that be converted to datetime) * format code Based on the string and format code used, the method returns its equivalent `datetime` object. In the above example: ![How strptime() works in Python?](https://cdn.programiz.com/sites/tutorial2program/files/python-strptime.jpg) Here, * `%d` - Represents the day of the month. **Example:** 01, 02, ..., 31 * `%B` - Month's name in full. **Example:** January, February etc. * `%Y` - Year in four digits. **Example:** 2018, 2019 etc. ### Example 2: string to datetime object ``` from datetime import datetime dt_string = "12/11/2018 09:15:32" # Considering date is in dd/mm/yyyy format dt_object1 = datetime.strptime(dt_string, "%d/%m/%Y %H:%M:%S") print("dt_object1 =", dt_object1) # Considering date is in mm/dd/yyyy format dt_object2 = datetime.strptime(dt_string, "%m/%d/%Y %H:%M:%S") print("dt_object2 =", dt_object2) ``` When you run the program, the output will be: ``` dt_object1 = 2018-11-12 09:15:32 dt_object2 = 2018-12-11 09:15:32 ``` ### Format Code List The table below shows all the format codes that you can use. | **Directive** | **Meaning** | **Example** | | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------ | | `%a` | Abbreviated weekday name. | Sun, Mon, ... | | `%A` | Full weekday name. | Sunday, Monday, ... | | `%w` | Weekday as a decimal number. | 0, 1, ..., 6 | | `%d` | Day of the month as a zero-padded decimal. | 01, 02, ..., 31 | | `%-d` | Day of the month as a decimal number. | 1, 2, ..., 30 | | `%b` | Abbreviated month name. | Jan, Feb, ..., Dec | | `%B` | Full month name. | January, February, ... | | `%m` | Month as a zero-padded decimal number. | 01, 02, ..., 12 | | `%-m` | Month as a decimal number. | 1, 2, ..., 12 | | `%y` | Year without century as a zero-padded decimal number. | 00, 01, ..., 99 | | `%-y` | Year without century as a decimal number. | 0, 1, ..., 99 | | `%Y` | Year with century as a decimal number. | 2013, 2019 etc. | | `%H` | Hour (24-hour clock) as a zero-padded decimal number. | 00, 01, ..., 23 | | `%-H` | Hour (24-hour clock) as a decimal number. | 0, 1, ..., 23 | | `%I` | Hour (12-hour clock) as a zero-padded decimal number. | 01, 02, ..., 12 | | `%-I` | Hour (12-hour clock) as a decimal number. | 1, 2, ... 12 | | `%p` | Locale’s AM or PM. | AM, PM | | `%M` | Minute as a zero-padded decimal number. | 00, 01, ..., 59 | | `%-M` | Minute as a decimal number. | 0, 1, ..., 59 | | `%S` | Second as a zero-padded decimal number. | 00, 01, ..., 59 | | `%-S` | Second as a decimal number. | 0, 1, ..., 59 | | `%f` | Microsecond as a decimal number, zero-padded on the left. | 000000 - 999999 | | `%z` | UTC offset in the form +HHMM or -HHMM. | | | `%Z` | Time zone name. | | | `%j` | Day of the year as a zero-padded decimal number. | 001, 002, ..., 366 | | `%-j` | Day of the year as a decimal number. | 1, 2, ..., 366 | | `%U` | Week number of the year (Sunday as the first day of the week). All days in a new year preceding the first Sunday are considered to be in week 0. | 00, 01, ..., 53 | | `%W` | Week number of the year (Monday as the first day of the week). All days in a new year preceding the first Monday are considered to be in week 0. | 00, 01, ..., 53 | | `%c` | Locale’s appropriate date and time representation. | Mon Sep 30 07:06:05 2013 | | `%x` | Locale’s appropriate date representation. | 09/30/13 | | `%X` | Locale’s appropriate time representation. | 07:06:05 | | `%%` | A literal '%' character. | % | #### ValueError in strptime() If the string (first argument) and the format code (second argument) passed to the `strptime()` doesn't match, you will get `ValueError`. For example: ``` from datetime import datetime date_string = "12/11/2018" date_object = datetime.strptime(date_string, "%d %m %Y") print("date_object =", date_object) ``` If you run this program, you will get an error. ``` ValueError: time data '12/11/2018' does not match format '%d %m %Y' ``` --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://python.dainganxanh.com/chuong8/python-strptime.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. 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