Adding Dates and Times in Python

Adding Dates and Times in Python

Mon, Oct 19, 2009

Tech Tips

Using the built-in modules datetime and timedelta, you can perform date and time addition/subtraction in python:

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1. from datetime import datetime  
2. from datetime import timedelta  
3.   
4. #Add 1 day  
5. print datetime.now() + timedelta(days=1)  
6.   
7. #Subtract 60 seconds  
8. print datetime.now() - timedelta(seconds=60)  
9.   
10. #Add 2 years  
11. print datetime.now() + timedelta(days=730)  
12.   
13. #Other Parameters you can pass in to timedelta:  
14. # days, seconds, microseconds,   
15. # milliseconds, minutes, hours, weeks  
16.   
17. #Pass multiple parameters (1 day and 5 minutes)  
18. print datetime.now() + timedelta(days=1,minutes=5)  

Here is a python reference that gives more examples and advanced features:
http://docs.python.org/library/datetime.html

If you are coming from a .net or sql environment, here are the above examples in C# and SQL (Microsoft) for comparison:
C#

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1. DateTime myTime = new DateTime();  
2.   
3. --Add 1 day  
4. myTime.AddDays(1);  
5.   
6. --Subtract 60 seconds  
7. myTime.AddSeconds(-60);  
8.   
9. --Add 2 years  
10. myTime.AddYears(2);  

SQL

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1. --Add 1 day  
2. select DATEADD(day, 1, getdate())  
3.   
4. --Subtract 60 seconds  
5. select DATEADD(second, -60, getdate())  
6.   
7. --Add 2 years  
8. select DATEADD(Year, 2, getdate())