{"id":15894,"date":"2020-11-01T23:19:19","date_gmt":"2020-11-02T07:19:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/?p=15894"},"modified":"2023-12-01T04:03:55","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T12:03:55","slug":"python-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerkarma.com\/blog\/python-time\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use the Python Time Module"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Python time module represents time-based objects in Python. Developers use time() function returns the current time as a UNIX timestamp. The ctime() function translates a UNIX timestamp into a standard year, month, day, and time format. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Working with time is an essential part of many programs. For instance, suppose you\u2019re building a sign-up form for a website. You may want to retrieve the current time so you know when a user signed up for your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s where the Python time module comes in. The time module allows you to work with time in your Python programs. You can perform actions like retrieving the current time and creating a pause in the program.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This tutorial will discuss, with reference to examples, the basics of the Python time module and how to use it.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Importing the Python Time Module<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The time module has a number of time-related functions you can implement in your Python programs. You can use the time module in all versions of Python. \n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we discuss how to use the time module, we first need to import it into our program. We can do so using a Python import statement<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

import time<\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\n
time() Python Function<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Python time()<\/em> function retrieves the current time. The time is represented as the number of seconds since January 1, 1970. This is the point at which UNIX time starts, also called the “epoch.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suppose we want to retrieve the time at this moment. We could do so using this program:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
import time\n\ncurrent_time = time.time()\nprint(current_time)<\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Our code returns: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1586944173.957986<\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Notice that our program did not return a regular time, such as 10:30 A.M. Our program returned a floating-point number (in other words, a decimal number).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This floating-point number is the number of seconds since the epoch started. We printed the time to the console using a print statement<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In programming, epoch time is a standard way of representing time. The time module does not have to account for time zones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is because epoch time only stores the number of seconds since the aforementioned date and time. No timezone data is stored, like Coordinated Universal Time, alongside an epoch value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Python Get Current Time Using ctime()<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Epoch time is not readable to most humans. You can concert the time from epoch to local time using the Python ctime()<\/em> function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ctime()<\/em> function accepts one argument. This argument is the number of seconds since the epoch started and returns a string with the local time. This value is based on the computer\u2019s time zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suppose we want to convert our previous epoch floating-point number into a timestamp. We could do so using this program:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
import time\n\nepoch_time = 1586944173.957986\nlocal_time = time.ctime(epoch_time)\n\nprint("The local time is:", local_time)<\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Our code returns the time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The local time is: Wed Apr 15 09:49:33 2020<\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\n
First, we declared a Python variable<\/a> called epoch_time<\/em>. This variable stores our epoch timestamp.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, we used time.ctime()<\/em> to convert the timestamp into local time. On the next line of our code, we printed the statement The local time is:<\/em>, followed by the local time. Also, the comma between The local time is:<\/em> and the local_time<\/em> variable adds in a space between the two values. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Python time sleep Function<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
One of the most common functions in Python\u2019s time library is the time.sleep()<\/em> function. time.sleep()<\/em> suspends the execution of a program for a specified number of seconds.\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suppose we want to print out the phrase \u201cLogging out \u2026 \u201d, then wait three seconds before printing \u201cLogout successful!\u201d to the console. We could do so using this code:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
import time\n\nprint("Logging out \u2026 ")\ntime.sleep(3)\nprint("Logout successful!")<\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s how our program works:
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