How to Convert Python Datetime to Epoch

1. Use the total_seconds() Method to Convert Datetime to epoch in Python
2. Use the timestamp() Function to Convert Datetime to epoch in Python
3. Use the strftime(format) Function to Convert Datetime to epoch in Python
4. Using strftime and strptime to Convert Python Datetime to epoch
5. Use the timegm Function to Convert DateTime to epoch in Python
6. Using External Libraries (arrow) to Convert Python Datetime to epoch
7. Using the time Module to Convert Python Datetime to epoch
8. Conclusion

Working with dates and times is a common task in Python development, and there are situations where it becomes necessary to convert DateTime objects to epoch timestamps. The epoch time, often represented as the number of seconds or milliseconds since January 1, 1970 (Unix epoch), is a standard way to handle time across different systems.

The datetime library can be imported into a Python program. It provides classes used in manipulating date and time in the Python code.

epoch is the starting point of measuring the time elapsed, and its value usually varies and depends on the platform being used.

In this tutorial, we will demonstrate various methods to convert DateTime to epoch in Python, each method offering unique advantages and use cases.

Use the total_seconds() Method to Convert Datetime to epoch in Python

The total_seconds() method is part of the timedelta class in Python’s datetime module. This method returns the total number of seconds contained in a timedelta object.

A timedelta represents the difference between two dates or times and is commonly used for performing arithmetic with DateTime objects.

The formula for converting a DateTime object to epoch time using total_seconds() involves calculating the difference between the DateTime object and the Unix epoch (January 1, 1970). This difference, represented as a timedelta, can then be passed to total_seconds() to obtain the total seconds.

The code below uses the explicit method to convert datetime to epoch in Python.

import datetime

ts = (
    datetime.datetime(2024, 1, 23, 0, 0) - datetime.datetime(1970, 1, 1)
).total_seconds()
print(ts)

Output:

1705968000.0

In this code, we take the current date and manually subtract it from the starting date and then convert it into seconds by using the total_seconds() function and displaying it. The initial date here is 1970/1/1.

Handling Time Zones With pytz

When dealing with DateTime objects that include time zone information, it’s recommended to use the pytz library for accurate and reliable conversions.

Here’s an example:

from datetime import datetime
import pytz

# Creating a DateTime object with time zone information
current_time_utc = datetime.now(pytz.utc)

# Calculating the difference from the Unix epoch
epoch_difference = current_time_utc - datetime(1970, 1, 1, tzinfo=pytz.utc)

# Converting the difference to total seconds
epoch_time = epoch_difference.total_seconds()

print("Epoch Time (UTC):", epoch_time)

Output:

Epoch Time (UTC): 1705949990.479682

In this example, pytz.utc is used to represent Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), ensuring proper handling of time zones during the conversion.

Use the timestamp() Function to Convert Datetime to epoch in Python

The timestamp() method is a built-in feature of the datetime class in Python. This method returns the POSIX timestamp, which is the number of seconds that have passed since the Unix epoch (January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC).

The timestamp() method is a straightforward and efficient way to obtain a numeric representation of a DateTime object, making it a commonly used approach for converting DateTime to epoch in Python.

A timestamp is a series of characters that dictates the value of when a particular event occurred. Python provides a function timestamp(), which can be used to get the timestamp of datetime since the epoch.

The code below uses the timestamp() function to convert datetime to epoch in Python.

import datetime

ts = datetime.datetime(2024, 1, 23, 0, 0).timestamp()
print(ts)

Output:

1705968000.0

This is a fairly easy method and provides us with accurate outputs.

Note that the timestamp() function only works on Python 3.3+ and is not applicable for use in the older versions of Python.

Handling Time Zones With pytz

When working with DateTime objects that include time zone information, it’s recommended to use the pytz library for accurate and reliable conversions. Here’s an example:

from datetime import datetime
import pytz

# Creating a DateTime object with time zone information
current_time_utc = datetime.now(pytz.utc)

# Convert DateTime to epoch using timestamp()
epoch_time = current_time_utc.timestamp()

print("Epoch Time (UTC):", epoch_time)

Output:

Epoch Time (UTC): 1705950328.425532

In this example, pytz.utc is used to represent Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), ensuring proper handling of time zones during the conversion.

Use the strftime(format) Function to Convert Datetime to epoch in Python

The strftime method is part of the datetime class in Python and is used for formatting DateTime objects as strings. The name strftime stands for string format time.

It takes a format string as an argument, where various format codes are used to represent different components of the DateTime object (such as year, month, day, hour, etc.).

The strftime(format) method is used to convert an object to a string based on the format specified by the user. For the reverse of this process, the strptime() method is used.

The code below uses the strftime(format) method to convert datetime to epoch in Python.

import datetime

ts = datetime.datetime(2024, 1, 23, 0, 0).strftime("%s")
print(ts)

Output:

1705968000

strftime(format) might not always provide the correct solution. This method uses the %s directive as an argument of strftime, which Python doesn’t actually support. It could work because Python forwards %s to the system’s strftime method.

This method is not the most accurate method for the conversion of datetime to epoch. It is not recommended to use this method simply because there are better and more accurate methods.

Using strftime and strptime to Convert Python Datetime to epoch

Another method involves formatting the DateTime object as a string and then parsing it back to a DateTime object. Afterward, you can use the timestamp() method.

Conversely, the strptime method, which stands for string parse time, is used for parsing strings into DateTime objects. It is also part of the datetime class and requires a format string that specifies how the input string is structured.

Together, the strftime and strptime methods provide a powerful mechanism for converting DateTime objects to strings and parsing strings back into DateTime objects.

Example Code:

from datetime import datetime

# Creating a DateTime object
current_time = datetime.now()

# Convert DateTime to epoch using strftime and strptime
formatted_time = current_time.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
parsed_time = datetime.strptime(formatted_time, "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
epoch_time = parsed_time.timestamp()

print("Epoch Time:", epoch_time)

Output:

Epoch Time: 1705950763.0

In this code example, we first create a DateTime object representing the current date and time. We then format the DateTime object as a string using strftime with a format specifier.

Next, we parse the formatted string back into a DateTime object using strptime. We use the timestamp() method on the parsed DateTime object to get the epoch time.

Lastly, we print the resulting epoch time.

Use the timegm Function to Convert DateTime to epoch in Python

The timegm() function takes a specific time value and returns its corresponding Unix timestamp value. The epoch is taken as 1970, and the POSIX encoding is assumed. time.gmtime() and timegm() functions are the inverse of each other.

Both calendar and time libraries need to be imported into the Python program to use these functions. The calendar module provides us with the ability to output calendars and some additional and useful functions related to it.

The following code uses the timegm() function to convert the Python datetime to epoch.

import datetime
import calendar

d = datetime.datetime(2024, 1, 23, 0, 0)
print(calendar.timegm(d.timetuple()))

Output:

1705968000

Using External Libraries (arrow) to Convert Python Datetime to epoch

There are external libraries, such as arrow, that provide additional functionalities for handling DateTime objects, including direct conversion to epoch time.

Arrow is an external Python library designed to simplify DateTime operations. It extends the functionality provided by the built-in datetime module, offering additional features such as easy formatting, parsing, time zone handling, and precise arithmetic.

Installation

Before diving into examples, ensure that arrow is installed. You can install it using the following command:

pip install arrow

Now, let’s explore how arrow can be employed for DateTime to epoch conversion.

Let’s begin with a simple example demonstrating how arrow can be used to convert a DateTime object to epoch time.

import arrow

# Creating an Arrow object
current_time = arrow.utcnow()

# Convert Arrow to epoch using timestamp()
epoch_time = current_time.timestamp()

print("Epoch Time:", epoch_time)

Output:

Epoch Time: 1705951506.729986

In the above code example, we start by installing the Arrow library using the pip install arrow. We then import the arrow module.

We create an Arrow object representing the current UTC using arrow.utcnow(). Next, we use the timestamp() method on the Arrow object to obtain the epoch time.

Lastly, we print the resulting epoch time.

Time Zone Handling With Arrow

One of Arrow’s notable features is its robust support for time zones. Let’s explore an example that incorporates time zone handling during DateTime to epoch conversion.

import arrow

# Creating an Arrow object with time zone information
current_time = arrow.now("US/Eastern")

# Convert Arrow to epoch using timestamp()
epoch_time = current_time.timestamp()

print("Original DateTime (Eastern Time):", current_time)
print("Epoch Time:", epoch_time)

Output:

Original DateTime (Eastern Time): 2024-01-22T14:27:01.584380-05:00
Epoch Time: 1705951621.58438

In this example, arrow.now('US/Eastern') creates an Arrow object representing the current time in the Eastern Time zone. The resulting epoch time takes the time zone into account, providing accurate and reliable conversions.

Using the time Module to Convert Python Datetime to epoch

The time module in Python provides various time-related functions, and it includes a method named time() that is particularly useful for obtaining the current time in epoch format. The epoch time is defined as the number of seconds that have elapsed since the Unix epoch (January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC).

Let’s dive into an example to illustrate the process of converting a DateTime object to epoch time using the time module.

from datetime import datetime
import time

# Creating a DateTime object
current_time = datetime.now()

# Convert DateTime to epoch using time.mktime()
epoch_time = time.mktime(current_time.timetuple())

print("Epoch Time:", epoch_time)

Output:

Epoch Time: 1705951705.0

We first import the datetime and time modules. Next, we create a DateTime object representing the current date and time.

We then use time.mktime() to convert the DateTime object to epoch time. This method requires a struct_time, which is obtained from the DateTime object using timetuple().

Finally, we print the resulting epoch time.

Handling Time Zones With datetime

When working with DateTime objects that include time zone information, the datetime module provides a more comprehensive solution. Let’s explore an example:

from datetime import datetime, timezone

# Creating a DateTime object with time zone information
current_time = datetime.now(timezone.utc)

# Convert DateTime to epoch using timestamp()
epoch_time = current_time.timestamp()

print("Original DateTime (UTC):", current_time)
print("Epoch Time:", epoch_time)

Output:

Original DateTime (UTC): 2024-01-22 19:31:16.303222+00:00
Epoch Time: 1705951876.303222

In this example, datetime.now(timezone.utc) creates a DateTime object representing the current time in UTC. The resulting epoch time takes the time zone into account, providing accurate and reliable conversions.

Conclusion

Handling dates and times is a fundamental aspect of many programming tasks, and Python offers several methods for converting DateTime objects to epoch timestamps. In this comprehensive tutorial, we explored various techniques, each catering to different use cases.

1. Using total_seconds() Method:

   • Utilizes the total_seconds() method of the timedelta class to calculate the difference between a DateTime object and the Unix epoch.
   • Ensures accurate conversion and is suitable for scenarios requiring precise time differences.

2. Using timestamp() Function:

   • Leverages the built-in timestamp() method of the datetime class, providing a straightforward and efficient way to obtain epoch time.
   • Offers a simple approach for converting DateTime objects to epoch timestamps.

3. Using strftime and strptime Functions:

   • Demonstrates the use of strftime to format DateTime objects as strings and strptime to parse them back into DateTime objects.
   • Useful for scenarios where intermediate string representation is required before conversion.

4. Using timegm Function:

   • Explores the timegm() function from the calendar and time modules to convert DateTime objects to epoch timestamps.
   • Useful when fine-grained control over epoch time calculation is needed.

5. Using External Library (arrow):

   • Introduces the arrow library, an external Python library providing enhanced functionality for handling DateTime objects.
   • Showcases straightforward methods for direct conversion to epoch time, with added support for time zones.

6. Using time Module:

   • Utilizes the time module’s mktime() function to convert DateTime objects to epoch timestamps.
   • Offers a direct approach, especially when dealing with the current time.