Convert UTC/Extended Format to Datetime in Python

Learn how to easily convert UTC/extended datetime formats to standard datetimes in Python through a step-by-step process.
---

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: How to convert UTC/extended format to datetime in Python

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
How to Convert UTC/Extended Format to Datetime in Python

If you've ever worked with date and time data in Python, you've likely encountered the challenge of converting datetime formats. One common task is to take a datetime string in the UTC or extended format and convert it to a more manageable format. For instance, you might want to simplify the format from Sat, 17 Apr 2021 16:17:00 + 0100 to just 17-04-2021. In this guide, we'll explore how to accomplish this using Python's datetime module.

Understanding the Problem

The provided datetime string has several components:

Day of the week (Sat)

Day of the month (17)

Month abbreviation (Apr)

Year (2021)

Time (16:17:00)

Time zone (+ 0100)

While the goal is to simplify this representation, achieving that requires a proper understanding of format specifiers used in Python's strptime() and strftime() methods.

The Initial Code Attempt

The initial code snippet provided attempts to convert the datetime string but fails with an error due to the incorrect format used:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This results in an error message: ' - ' is a bad directive in format '%- %Y %M %d'.

Finding the Solution

Correcting the Format Specifier

Understanding Format Specifiers: The specific error arises from using an invalid format specifier. In Python, format specifiers need to match the format of the input datetime string accurately. The correct format should look like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

%a: Abbreviated weekday name

%d: Day of the month (01-31)

%b: Abbreviated month name

%Y: Year with century (e.g., 2021)

%H: Hour (00-23)

%M: Minute (00-59)

%S: Second (00-59)

%z: Time zone offset

Using strptime(): Now you can convert the input datetime string to a datetime object:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Formatting the Output

Once you have the datetime object, the next step is to format it into your preferred output:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Complete Code Example

Here's the complete code that combines all of the above steps into a single function:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

Converting UTC or extended format datetime strings in Python involves understanding format specifiers and using the right functions. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can efficiently transform datetime strings into your desired format. Whether you're working with timestamps for logging, analytics, or any other application, mastering these conversions can greatly enhance your Python coding experience.

If you have any questions or further topics you'd like to explore, feel free to leave a comment below!