Python Date String Conversion: How to Convert to Different Format

If you're working with dates in Python, you may need to convert a date string to a different format. Fortunately, Python makes this process relatively easy.

Using strftime()

The easiest way to convert a date string to a different format is to use the strftime() method. This method allows you to format a date string in a variety of ways.

<?python
import datetime

# create a datetime object
date_string = "2021-03-25"
date_object = datetime.datetime.strptime(date_string, "%Y-%m-%d")

# format the date string
new_date_string = date_object.strftime("%m/%d/%Y")

print(new_date_string)
# output: 03/25/2021
>

In this example, we first create a datetime object from the original date string using the strptime() method. We then use the strftime() method to format the date string in a new way.

Using dateutil.parser

If you're working with date strings that have a more complex format, you may need to use the dateutil.parser module. This module allows you to parse date strings in a variety of formats.

<?python
from dateutil.parser import parse

# parse the date string
date_string = "March 25, 2021"
date_object = parse(date_string)

# format the date string
new_date_string = date_object.strftime("%m/%d/%Y")

print(new_date_string)
# output: 03/25/2021
>

In this example, we use the parse() method from the dateutil.parser module to create a datetime object from the original date string. We then use the strftime() method to format the date string in a new way.

Conclusion

Converting a date string to a different format in Python is relatively simple using the strftime() method or the dateutil.parser module. By understanding these methods, you can easily manipulate date strings to fit your needs.