Python Get Current time

Here's a clear guide to getting the current time in Python using various methods:

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1. Using the datetime Object

The datetime module provides the now() method to fetch the current date and time.

Example:

from datetime import datetime

now = datetime.now()
current_time = now.strftime("%H:%M:%S")
print("Current Time =", current_time)

Output:

Current Time = 07:41:19

• now() returns the current local date and time as a datetime object.
• strftime("%H:%M:%S") formats it into a readable string.

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2. Using the time Module

The time module can also be used to fetch the current time.

Example:

import time

t = time.localtime()
current_time = time.strftime("%H:%M:%S", t)
print(current_time)

Output:

07:46:58

• time.localtime() returns a struct_time object for the current local time.
• time.strftime() formats it into the desired time string.

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3. Getting Current Time of a Specific Timezone

To fetch the current time of a specific timezone, the pytz module is extremely useful.

Example:

from datetime import datetime
import pytz

# Get the timezone object for New York
tz_NY = pytz.timezone('America/New_York')
datetime_NY = datetime.now(tz_NY)

print("NY time:", datetime_NY.strftime("%H:%M:%S"))

# Get the timezone object for London
tz_London = pytz.timezone('Europe/London')
datetime_London = datetime.now(tz_London)

print("London time:", datetime_London.strftime("%H:%M:%S"))

Output:

NY time: 03:45:16
London time: 08:45:16

• pytz.timezone(): Creates a timezone object for the specified region.
• datetime.now(tz): Fetches the current time in the given timezone.

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Summary

• Use the datetime module for straightforward local time fetching and formatting.
• Use the time module for basic time operations.
• Use the pytz module to work with timezones effectively.

These approaches allow you to retrieve and display the current time in various contexts effortlessly.