Time Zone in Python and Daylight Saving Time in Python
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2025 5:19 am
Do you want to know how to handle time zones in Python and still be able to check whether or not a system is in daylight saving time in Python for your applications?
If you prefer this content in video lesson format, watch the video below or access our YouTube channel !
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Date and Time in Python
Before moving on to daylight saving time and time zones, it is important for you to know that in Python, we have the datetime library , which is a date and time library in Python.
You have two ways to use these libraries. The most common is bc data to import the library directly, but you can import only a specific function from that library.
import datetime
from datetime import datetime
Text to Date in Python (strptime)
After importing the library, we will start today's class example! Imagine that you have a text with the date written in the format of the data_text variable , which is a text, but you need to pass it to the date format to be able to work with this information.
After all, you should know that you won't be able to perform calculations or date processing with this information in text format, right?
For this we will use the .strptime of the datetime, where you will put the information that will make this transformation and you will also put the format that the date is in, because you should know that in programming it is very common to have information in the American format.
So it is important that you enter this information correctly so that you can transform the text into a date.
But it's not just a matter of writing day or day, month or month... we're going to use some codes for this and you can find these codes in the link below, which is the website for the datetime library documentation in the strptime section, which is what we're using.
from datetime import datetime
With these formats %d, %m… that you will find in the documentation so that you can make the transformation in the way you need, you will notice that when we use print, Python will already recognize this information as a date.
Date and Time in Python
In this case you will see the date as year/month/day, because it is the American format, but Python already recognizes that this information is a date.
Python Date Format and Daylight Saving Time in Python
When we transform the date format in Python, it comes in the naive format , that is, it is a format that does not provide information about where the time is, whether there is a time zone or not.
It is raw data, just the date without distinction of location. That's why we need to turn this information into an intelligent data ( aware ) so that you have this location information to know the time zone and if there is daylight saving time.
To make this transformation, we will need the pytz (python timezone) library. This library will be able to make any time zone aware and be able to translate between these different time zones.
So let's first choose a time zone to assign the date using pytz.timezone and here we will consult the internet to find out what codes we have to assign the time zone.
If you prefer this content in video lesson format, watch the video below or access our YouTube channel !
To receive the file(s) used in the class by email, fill in :
You will learn the fastest growing programming language in the world to create incredible automations, develop websites, perform data analysis, work with Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, even if you have never had any contact with Programming in your life.
Start now
Right arrow
Python icon used as backgroundThree images of Python course classes
Date and Time in Python
Before moving on to daylight saving time and time zones, it is important for you to know that in Python, we have the datetime library , which is a date and time library in Python.
You have two ways to use these libraries. The most common is bc data to import the library directly, but you can import only a specific function from that library.
import datetime
from datetime import datetime
Text to Date in Python (strptime)
After importing the library, we will start today's class example! Imagine that you have a text with the date written in the format of the data_text variable , which is a text, but you need to pass it to the date format to be able to work with this information.
After all, you should know that you won't be able to perform calculations or date processing with this information in text format, right?
For this we will use the .strptime of the datetime, where you will put the information that will make this transformation and you will also put the format that the date is in, because you should know that in programming it is very common to have information in the American format.
So it is important that you enter this information correctly so that you can transform the text into a date.
But it's not just a matter of writing day or day, month or month... we're going to use some codes for this and you can find these codes in the link below, which is the website for the datetime library documentation in the strptime section, which is what we're using.
from datetime import datetime
With these formats %d, %m… that you will find in the documentation so that you can make the transformation in the way you need, you will notice that when we use print, Python will already recognize this information as a date.
Date and Time in Python
In this case you will see the date as year/month/day, because it is the American format, but Python already recognizes that this information is a date.
Python Date Format and Daylight Saving Time in Python
When we transform the date format in Python, it comes in the naive format , that is, it is a format that does not provide information about where the time is, whether there is a time zone or not.
It is raw data, just the date without distinction of location. That's why we need to turn this information into an intelligent data ( aware ) so that you have this location information to know the time zone and if there is daylight saving time.
To make this transformation, we will need the pytz (python timezone) library. This library will be able to make any time zone aware and be able to translate between these different time zones.
So let's first choose a time zone to assign the date using pytz.timezone and here we will consult the internet to find out what codes we have to assign the time zone.