Python Program to Convert String to Datetime

In this example, you will learn to convert string to datetime.

To understand this example, you should have the knowledge of the following Python programming topics:

• Python datetime
• Python Strings

1. Example 1: Using datetime module

from datetime import datetime

my_date_string = "Mar 11 2011 11:31AM"

datetime_object = datetime.strptime(my_date_string, '%b %d %Y %I:%M%p')

print(type(datetime_object))
print(datetime_object)

Output

<class 'datetime.datetime'>
2011-03-11 11:31:00

Using strptime(), date and time in string format can be converted to datetime type. The first parameter is the string and the second is the date time format specifier.

One advantage of converting to date format is one can select the month or date or time individually.

If you want to learn more about the directives and strptime(), please go to Python strptime() – string to datetime object.

2. Example 2: Using dateutil module

from dateutil import parser

date_time = parser.parse("Mar 11 2011 11:31AM")

print(date_time)
print(type(date_time))

Output

2011-03-11 11:31:00
<class 'datetime.datetime'>

Using dateutil module, parse() can be used to convert a string into date time format. The only parameter used is the string.