Saturday, September 6, 2025
HomeLanguagestime.strftime() function in Python

time.strftime() function in Python

As time module provides various time-related functions. So it is necessary to import the time module otherwise it will through error because of the definition of time.strftime(format[, t]) is present in time module.
time.strftime(format[, t]) function convert a tuple or struct_time representing a time as returned by gmtime() or localtime() to a string as specified by the format argument. 
If t is not provided, the current time as returned by localtime() is used. The format must be a string. ValueError is raised if any field in t is outside of the allowed range.
Note: 
0 is a legal argument for any position in the time tuple; if it is normally illegal the value is forced to a correct one.
 

Syntax: time.strftime(format[, t])
Parameters : 
t – time in number of seconds to be formatted 
format – This is of string type. i.e. the directives can be embedded in the format string.
Return value: None

There are many directives that can be embedded in the format string, you can refer them here. 
Notes:
 

  • When used with the strptime() function, the %p directive only affects the output hour field if the %I directive is used to parse the hour.
  • The range really is 0 to 61; value 60 is valid in timestamps representing leap seconds and value 61 is supported for historical reasons.
  • When used with the strptime() function, %U and %W are only used in calculations when the day of the week and the year are specified.

Below is the implementation:
 

Python3




# Program To show How can we use different derivatives
# Multiple at a time and single at a time
 
 
# importing the srtftime() and gmtime()
# if not used the gm time, time changes
# to the local time
 
from time import gmtime, strftime
 
# using simple format of showing time
s = strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S + 1010", gmtime())
print("Example 1:", s)
 
print()
 
# only change in this is the full names
# and the representation
s = strftime("%A, %D %B %Y %H:%M:%S + 0000", gmtime())
print("Example 2:", s)
 
print()
 
# this will show you the preferred date time format
s = strftime("%c")
print("Example 3:", s)
 
print()
 
# this will tell about the centuries
s = strftime("%C")
print("Example 4:", s)
 
print()
 
# MOTY: month of the year
# DOTY: Day of the year
# Simple representation
# % n - new line
s = strftime("%A, %D %B %Y, %r, %nMOTY:%m %nDOTY:% j")
print("Example 5:", s)
 
print()
 
# % R - time in 24 hour notation
s = strftime(" %R ")
print("Example 6:", s)
 
print()
 
# % H - hour, using a 24-hour clock (00 to 23) in Example 1, 2, 3
# % I - hour, using a 12-hour clock (01 to 12)
s = strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %I:%M:%S + 0000", gmtime())
print("Example 7:", s)
 
print()
 
# % T - current time, equal to % H:% M:% S
s = strftime("%r, %T ", gmtime())
print("Example 8:", s)
 
print()
 
# % u an % U use (see difference)
s = strftime("%r, %u, %U")
print("Example 9:", s)
 
print()
 
# use of % V, % W, % w
s = strftime("%r, %V, %W, %w")
print("Example 10:", s)
 
print()
 
# use of % x, % X, % y, % Y
s = strftime("%x, %X, %y, %Y")
print("Example 11:", s)
 
print()
 
# use of % Z, % z
s = strftime("%r, %z, %Z")
print("Example 12:", s)


Output: 

Example 1: Tue, 25 Jun 2019 10:09:52 + 1010

Example 2: Tuesday, 06/25/19 June 2019 10:09:52 + 0000

Example 3: Tue Jun 25 10:09:52 2019

Example 4: 20

Example 5: Tuesday, 06/25/19 June 2019, 10:09:52 AM, 
MOTY:06 
DOTY:% j

Example 6:  10:09 

Example 7: Tue, 25 Jun 2019 10:09:52 + 0000

Example 8: 10:09:52 AM, 10:09:52 

Example 9: 10:09:52 AM, 2, 25

Example 10: 10:09:52 AM, 26, 25, 2

Example 11: 06/25/19, 10:09:52, 19, 2019

Example 12: 10:09:52 AM, +0000, UTC

 

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular

Dominic
32270 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Milvus
82 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nango Kala
6639 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nicole Veronica
11803 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nokonwaba Nkukhwana
11869 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Shaida Kate Naidoo
6752 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Ted Musemwa
7029 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Thapelo Manthata
6705 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Umr Jansen
6721 POSTS0 COMMENTS