How Can I Compare and Manipulate Dates in Python?

Determining Date Precedence in Python

In many programming scenarios, comparing dates is crucial. Python provides several efficient methods to perform this task, as illustrated in the following demonstration.

We can use the datetime module to compare two dates. The datetime module provides a method called now() that returns the current date and time. We can also create datetime objects by specifying the year, month, and day.

To compare two dates, we can use the operators >, <, >=, and <=. The following code shows how to compare the current date with a past date:

<code class="python">from datetime import datetime

past = datetime(2023, 7, 4)
present = datetime.now()

if past < present:
    print("The past date is before the present date.")
else:
    print("The past date is after or equal to the present date.")</code>

In this example, the past date is before the present date, so the first line of the if statement will be executed.

We can also use the timedelta object to perform date arithmetic. The timedelta object represents a duration of time. We can use the timedelta object to add or subtract days, weeks, months, or years from a date.

For instance, the following code subtracts one day from the current date:

<code class="python">from datetime import datetime, timedelta

present = datetime.now()
past = present - timedelta(days=1)

print(past)</code>

The output will be the date one day before the current date.

By utilizing the datetime module and the timedelta object, you can effectively compare dates and perform date arithmetic in Python, enabling you to handle various date-related tasks with ease.

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