How to get Yesterday’s Date in Python

Introduction:

Getting yesterday’s date is a common requirement in many Python applications. For example, you may need to generate a report that includes data from the previous day, or you may need to perform some data analysis on data collected yesterday. In such scenarios, it is essential to know how to get yesterday’s date in Python accurately.

Fortunately, Python provides built-in modules that make it easy to work with dates and times. In this section, we’ll explore how to use the datetime module to get yesterday’s date.

Using datetime module:

To get yesterday’s date in Python, we can use the datetime module. This module provides various classes to work with dates and times. The datetime class is particularly useful for working with dates.

Here’s an example of how to use the datetime module to get yesterday’s date:

import datetime

today = datetime.date.today()
yesterday = today - datetime.timedelta(days=1)

print("Yesterday was:", yesterday)

In this code, we first import the datetime module. Then, we use the `date.today()` method to get today’s date and store it in the `today` variable.

Next, we create a new variable called `yesterday` by subtracting one day from today using `datetime.timedelta(days=1)`. This creates a timedelta object representing a duration of one day, which we can subtract from today’s date to get yesterday’s date.

Finally, we print out yesterday’s date using the `print()` function.

This is a simple way to get yesterday’s date using Python’s built-in datetime module.

Using timedelta:

To get yesterday’s date in Python, you can use the timedelta method available in the datetime module. The timedelta method allows you to perform arithmetic operations on datetime objects.

First, you need to import the datetime module:

import datetime

Next, you can create a datetime object for today’s date using the now() method:

today = datetime.datetime.now()

Then, you can subtract one day from today’s date using the timedelta method:

yesterday = today - datetime.timedelta(days=1)

The days parameter in the timedelta method specifies how many days to subtract from today’s date. In this case, we are subtracting one day.

Finally, you can print yesterday’s date using the strftime() method to format the output:

print(yesterday.strftime('%Y-%m-%d'))

The strftime() method formats the datetime object as a string. In this case, we are formatting it as ‘YYYY-MM-DD’. You can change the format string to display the date in a different format if desired.

Overall, using timedelta is a simple and effective way to get yesterday’s date in Python.

Using arrow module:

Python provides several modules for working with dates and times. One of the most popular is the arrow module, which offers a more intuitive and human-readable approach to working with dates and times.

To get yesterday’s date using arrow, we first need to install the module. This can be done via pip by running the following command:

pip install arrow

Once installed, we can import the module and use its `Arrow` class to create an object representing the current date and time. From there, we can simply subtract a day to get yesterday’s date:

import arrow

today = arrow.now()
yesterday = today.shift(days=-1).date()

print(yesterday)

In this example, we first create an `Arrow` object representing the current date and time using `arrow.now()`. We then use the `shift()` method to subtract one day from that date, resulting in an `Arrow` object representing yesterday’s date. Finally, we call the `date()` method on that object to get a Python `date` object representing yesterday’s date.

The output of this code will be something like:

2021-10-06

Overall, using the arrow module is a simple and effective way to work with dates and times in Python. Its intuitive syntax makes it easy to perform complex operations like getting yesterday’s date with just a few lines of code.

Conclusion:

To get yesterday’s date in Python, there are several ways to achieve this. One way is to use the `datetime` module which comes with Python’s standard library. Here is an example of how we can get yesterday’s date using the `datetime` module:

import datetime

today = datetime.date.today()
yesterday = today - datetime.timedelta(days=1)

print("Yesterday was:", yesterday)

In the code above, we first imported the `datetime` module. Then, we used the `date.today()` method to get today’s date and stored it in the `today` variable. Next, we used the `timedelta()` function to subtract one day from today’s date and stored it in the `yesterday` variable. Finally, we printed out yesterday’s date.

Another way to get yesterday’s date is by using the `dateutil` module. Here is an example of how to do that:

from dateutil.relativedelta import relativedelta
import datetime

today = datetime.date.today()
yesterday = today - relativedelta(days=1)

print("Yesterday was:", yesterday)

In the code above, we imported the `relativedelta` function from the `dateutil.relativedelta` module. Then, we used this function to subtract one day from today’s date and stored it in the `yesterday` variable.

Conclusion:
Both methods are effective in getting yesterday’s date in Python; however, if you need to perform more complex operations with dates, then using the `dateutil` module would be better suited for your needs. On the other hand, if you just need a simple way to get yesterday’s date without installing any additional packages, then using the `datetime` module would be a good choice.
Interested in learning more? Check out our Introduction to Python course!

Your FREE Guide to Become a Data Scientist

Discover the path to becoming a data scientist with our comprehensive FREE guide! Unlock your potential in this in-demand field and access valuable resources to kickstart your journey.

Don’t wait, download now and transform your career!