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Python Dates and Times in Python (2014) Dates and Times strftime & strptime

Trevor Wood
Trevor Wood
17,828 Points
Posted by Trevor Wood
Trevor Wood
17,828 Points

I'm not sure how to approach this one

It looks like it wants me to combine them? So just add them together? I'm a little confused on this challenge

timestrings.py 
## Examples
# to_string(datetime_object) => "24 September 2012"
# from_string("09/24/12 18:30", "%m/%d/%y %H:%M") => datetime

import datetime
def to_string(foo):
  return foo.strftime('%d %B %Y')

def from_string(arg_str,arg_strftime):

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,269 Points

No, you don't want to combine the arguments. Instead, pass them to the strptime function which will use them to create a new date.

If you re-watch the Wikipedia Links video, you'll see an example where this is done around time index 2:20.

Trevor Wood
Trevor Wood
17,828 Points
Trevor Wood
Trevor Wood
17,828 Points

I passed it with this code, but I'm still not entirely sure how it can work with a string? I thought strings cannot be read the same way.

## Examples
# to_string(datetime_object) => "24 September 2012"
# from_string("09/24/12 18:30", "%m/%d/%y %H:%M") => datetime

import datetime
def to_string(foo):
  return foo.strftime('%d %B %Y')

def from_string(arg_str,arg_strftime):
  date = datetime.datetime.strptime(arg_str,arg_strftime)
  return date