time.strftime(format[, t]) function in Python's time module converts a given time tuple (t) or struct_time object into a formatted string based on the specified format. If t is not provided, the function uses the current local time. The format must be a string and a ValueError is raised if any field in t is out of range. Example:

import time

t = time.localtime()
fmt_time = time.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", t) # format time

print(fmt_time)

2025-03-08 11:01:08

Syntax:

time.strftime(format[, t])

Parameters:

• format (str): string containing format codes that define how the output should be structured.
• t (optional): time structure (e.g., from gmtime() or localtime()). If omitted, the current local time is used.

Returns: Returns a formatted string representing the time.

Points to remember:

• 0 is a valid argument for any position in the time tuple, if it is normally illegal, the value is adjusted to a correct one.
• When used with the strptime(), the %p directive only affects the hour field if %I is also used.
• The range of seconds can be 0-61 due to leap seconds.
• %U and %W affect calculations only when the day of the week and year are specified.

Commonly used directives in strftime()

Example:

from time import gmtime, strftime

# using simple format of showing time
s = strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S + 1010", gmtime())
print("Example 1:", s)

# only change in this is the full names
# and the representation
s = strftime("%A, %D %B %Y %H:%M:%S + 0000", gmtime())
print("Example 2:", s)

# this will show you the preferred date time format
s = strftime("%c")
print("Example 3:", s)

# this will tell about the centuries
s = strftime("%C")
print("Example 4:", s)

# MOTY: month of the year
# DOTY: Day of the year
# Simple representation
# % n - new line
s = strftime("%A, %D %B %Y, %r, %nMOTY:%m %nDOTY:% j")
print("Example 5:", s)


# % R - time in 24 hour notation
s = strftime(" %R ")
print("Example 6:", s)


# % H - hour, using a 24-hour clock (00 to 23) in Example 1, 2, 3
# % I - hour, using a 12-hour clock (01 to 12)
s = strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %I:%M:%S + 0000", gmtime())
print("Example 7:", s)

# % T - current time, equal to % H:% M:% S
s = strftime("%r, %T ", gmtime())
print("Example 8:", s)

# % u an % U use (see difference)
s = strftime("%r, %u, %U")
print("Example 9:", s)

# use of % V, % W, % w
s = strftime("%r, %V, %W, %w")
print("Example 10:", s)

# use of % x, % X, % y, % Y
s = strftime("%x, %X, %y, %Y")
print("Example 11:", s)

# use of % Z, % z
s = strftime("%r, %z, %Z")
print("Example 12:", s)

Output

Example 1: Sat, 08 Mar 2025 11:00:10 + 1010
Example 2: Saturday, 03/08/25 March 2025 11:00:10 + 0000
Example 3: Sat Mar  8 11:00:10 2025
Example 4: 20
Example 5: Saturday, 03/08/25 March 2025, 11:00:10 AM, 
MOTY:03 
DOTY:% j
Example 6:  11:00 
Example 7: Sat, 08 Mar 2025 11:00:10 + 0000
Example 8: 11:00:10 AM, 11:00:10 
Example 9: 11:00:10 AM, 6, 09
Example 10: 11:00:10 AM, 10, 09, 6
Example 11: 03/08/25, 11:00:10, 25, 2025
Example 12: 11:00:10 AM, +0000, UTC