Python Datetime.timedelta() Method

1. Syntax of Python datetime.timedelta() Method
2. Example Codes: Working With the datetime.timedelta() Method
3. Example Codes: Find Time Difference Using the datetime.timedelta() Method
4. Example Codes: Enter Negative Values in the datetime.timedelta() Method
5. Example Codes: Add Days and Time in a DateTime Object Using the datetime.timedelta() Method

Python datetime.timedelta() method is an efficient way of calculating the duration between two dates and times. A timedelta object can do mathematical operations, e.g., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, etc.

Syntax of Python datetime.timedelta() Method

datetime.timedelta()
datetime.timedelta(days, seconds, microseconds, milliseconds, minutes, hours, weeks)

Parameters

Return

The return type of this method is a timedelta object.

Example Codes: Working With the datetime.timedelta() Method

import datetime

print(
    datetime.timedelta(
        days=20,
        seconds=40,
        microseconds=8,
        milliseconds=9,
        minutes=30,
        hours=7,
        weeks=6,
    )
)

Output:

62 days, 7:30:40.009008

Note that the arguments can be in integers or floats. The values may be either positive or negative.

Example Codes: Find Time Difference Using the datetime.timedelta() Method

import datetime

print("Today is ", datetime.datetime.now())

print(
    "One year from now, the date will be "
    + str(datetime.datetime.now() + datetime.timedelta(days=365))
)

Output:

Today is  2022-09-05 11:20:24.346875
One year from now, the date will be 2023-09-05 11:20:24.346932

An OverflowError or OSError exception may occur if argument values lie outside the indicated range.

Example Codes: Enter Negative Values in the datetime.timedelta() Method

import datetime

time = datetime.datetime.now()

print(time + datetime.timedelta(days=-3))

Output:

2022-09-02 11:25:02.151686

The above code can easily be used to find a date and time in the past.

Example Codes: Add Days and Time in a DateTime Object Using the datetime.timedelta() Method

import datetime

time = datetime.datetime.now()

print(time)

print(time + datetime.timedelta(days=20, seconds=40, milliseconds=9, hours=7, weeks=6))

Output:

2022-09-05 11:28:26.239365
2022-11-06 18:29:06.248365

The above code can easily be used to find a date and time in the future.