Python datetime.time.time.strftime() Method

1. Syntax
2. Example Code: Use datetime.time.time.strftime() in Python

Python is a dynamically typed and famous general-purpose programming language. Currently, it is employed for a variety of use cases.

Because of the ease and robustness that it delivers, it has a ton of support from the community. Python has a built-in module, datetime, that makes functioning with dates, times, time deltas, and time zones a piece of cake.

The datetime library provides several methods and classes such as datetime, date, time, tzinfo, timezone, and timedelta to work with dates and times. These classes are saturated with numerous functions and attributes and offer dynamic utilities.

Every datetime.time object of this module has access to a member function, namely, strftime(), that lets developers convert a time object to a string representation with the help of placeholders. More formally, these placeholders are also known as format codes.

Every format code is associated with a specific value in a time object, and this method is smart enough to recognize them and replace them with relevant values.

In this article, we will dive deep into the strftime() method and format codes and comprehensively understand both with the help of some pertinent examples.

Syntax

time.strftime(format)

Parameters

The following are the format codes used in the format string.

Returns

The strftime() method returns a string representation of a time object.

Example Code: Use datetime.time.time.strftime() in Python

import datetime

cet = datetime.timezone(datetime.timedelta(hours=2), name="CET")
time = datetime.time(12, 33, 45, 234154, cet)
f1 = "Hours: %H | Minutes: %M | Seconds: %S | Milliseconds: %f"
f2 = "Local time representation - %X"
f3 = "Timezone is %Z and the offset is %z"
print("Time:", time)
print("Format #1:", time.strftime(f1))
print("Format #2:", time.strftime(f2))
print("Format #3:", time.strftime(f3))

Output:

Time: 12:33:45.234154+02:00
Format #1: Hours: 12 | Minutes: 33 | Seconds: 45 | Milliseconds: 234154
Format #2: Local time representation - 12:33:45
Format #3: Timezone is CET and the offset is +0200

1. The Python code above first creates a timezone-aware time object and sets the timezone to CET or Central European Time which is 2 hours ahead of UTC.
2. Next, it declares 3 string formats for the time object.
3. The first format uses hour, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds format codes.
4. The second format uses the format code for local time representation.
5. The third format uses format codes for the timezone’s name and timezone offset.
6. Finally, using the strftime() method, the time is printed in these three formats.