How To Convert Timestamp To Date and Time in Python

There are multiple ways how you can convert timestamp to human readable form in Python. For this conversion you may either use module datetime or time.

Using module datetime

Module datetime provides classes for manipulating date and time in more object oriented way.

import datetime
readable = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(1521069137).isoformat()
print(readable)
# 2018-03-15T00:12:17+01:00

Using module time

Another possibility to use function ctime from module time.

import time
readable = time.ctime(1521069137)
# Thu Mar 15 00:12:17 2018

Formatting

For custom human readable format you may use function strftime.

import time
ts = time.gmtime()
print(time.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", ts))
# 2018-03-15 00:12:17

print(time.strftime("%x %X", ts))
# 03/15/18 00:12:17

# Iso Format
print(time.strftime("%c", ts))
# Thu Mar 15 00:12:17 2018

# Unix timestamp
print(time.strftime("%s", ts))
# 1521069137

Directive	Meaning
%a	Locale’s abbreviated weekday name.
%A	Locale’s full weekday name.
%b	Locale’s abbreviated month name.
%B	Locale’s full month name.
%c	Locale’s appropriate date and time representation.
%d	Day of the month as a decimal number [01,31].
%H	Hour (24-hour clock) as a decimal number [00,23].
%I	Hour (12-hour clock) as a decimal number [01,12].
%j	Day of the year as a decimal number [001,366].
%m	Month as a decimal number [01,12].
%M	Minute as a decimal number [00,59].
%p	Locale’s equivalent of either AM or PM.
%S	Second as a decimal number [00,61].
%U	Week number of the year (Sunday as the first day of the week) as a decimal number [00,53]. All days in a new year preceding the first Sunday are considered to be in week 0.
%w	Weekday as a decimal number [0(Sunday),6].
%W	Week number of the year (Monday as the first day of the week) as a decimal number [00,53]. All days in a new year preceding the first Monday are considered to be in week 0.
%x	Locale’s appropriate date representation.
%X	Locale’s appropriate time representation.
%y	Year without century as a decimal number [00,99].
%Y	Year with century as a decimal number.
%Z	Time zone name (no characters if no time zone exists).
%%	A literal '%' character.