How to Get Yesterday Date in Python
In Python, there are several ways to get the date of yesterday. Whether you’re working with a Python script or a Python-based application, knowing how to retrieve the date of the previous day can be incredibly useful for a variety of tasks, such as generating reports, scheduling tasks, or simply keeping track of time. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common methods to get yesterday’s date in Python.
One of the simplest ways to obtain yesterday’s date in Python is by using the `datetime` module, which is a part of the Python Standard Library. The `datetime` module provides classes for manipulating dates and times. To get yesterday’s date, you can create a `datetime` object for today’s date and then subtract one day from it.
Here’s an example of how to do this:
“`python
from datetime import datetime, timedelta
Get today’s date
today = datetime.now()
Subtract one day from today’s date to get yesterday’s date
yesterday = today – timedelta(days=1)
Print yesterday’s date
print(yesterday.strftime(‘%Y-%m-%d’))
“`
In this code snippet, we first import the `datetime` and `timedelta` classes from the `datetime` module. We then get today’s date using `datetime.now()`. To calculate yesterday’s date, we subtract one day from today’s date using `timedelta(days=1)`. Finally, we use the `strftime` method to format the date as a string in the format `YYYY-MM-DD`.
Another method to get yesterday’s date in Python is by using the `dateutil.relativedelta` class, which is part of the `dateutil` module. The `dateutil` module is a powerful extension to the standard `datetime` module, offering additional functionality for date and time calculations.
Here’s an example of how to use `dateutil.relativedelta` to get yesterday’s date:
“`python
from datetime import datetime
from dateutil.relativedelta import relativedelta
Get today’s date
today = datetime.now()
Subtract one day from today’s date using relativedelta
yesterday = today – relativedelta(days=1)
Print yesterday’s date
print(yesterday.strftime(‘%Y-%m-%d’))
“`
In this code snippet, we import the `datetime` class and the `relativedelta` class from the `dateutil.relativedelta` module. We then use `datetime.now()` to get today’s date and subtract one day from it using `relativedelta(days=1)`. Finally, we format and print the date as a string.
Both of these methods are effective for getting yesterday’s date in Python. The choice between them depends on your specific needs and the libraries you have available in your Python environment. With these techniques, you’ll be well-equipped to handle date-related tasks in your Python projects.
