how to initialize time() object in python

Question

I am trying to initialize a time object like this:

t = datetime.time(0,0,0)

but I am getting this error:

descriptor 'time' requires a 'datetime.datetime' object but received a 'int'

I have these things imported

import datetime
from datetime import datetime, date, time
import time

They seem a bit redundant so I am wondering if this is what is causing the problem

I am also using the strptime method and the combine method

    earliest = datetime.combine(earliest, t)
    value = datetime.strptime(value, format)

Martijn Pieters · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-05 23:49:58Z

52

You can create the object without any values:

>>> import datetime
>>> datetime.time()
datetime.time(0, 0)

You, however, imported the class datetime from the module, replacing the module itself:

>>> from datetime import datetime
>>> datetime.time
<method 'time' of 'datetime.datetime' objects>

and that has a different signature:

>>> datetime.time()
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
TypeError: descriptor 'time' of 'datetime.datetime' object needs an argument
>>> datetime.time(0)
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
TypeError: descriptor 'time' requires a 'datetime.datetime' object but received a 'int'

Either import the whole module, or import the contained classes, but don't mix and match. Stick to:

import datetime
import time

if you need both modules.

edited Sep 5, 2012 at 23:49

answered Sep 5, 2012 at 23:44

Martijn Pieters

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4 Comments

Ry- Over a year ago

The three-parameter constructor is equally valid, just redundant. docs.python.org/library/datetime.html#datetime.time

Santiago Over a year ago

@Martijn ok so what should I keep/change?

Santiago Over a year ago

@Martijn I have tried only importing datetime and time but when I do this I now get this error: 'module' object has no attribute 'strptime' refering to line : value = datetime.strptime(value, format)

Martijn Pieters Over a year ago

@Santiago: that's a classmethod, call datetime.datetime.strptime().

sandesh247 · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-05 23:47:39Z

23

The constructor for time is:

class datetime.time(hour[, minute[, second[, microsecond[, tzinfo]]]])

(from http://docs.python.org/library/datetime.html#time-objects)

This works for me:

In [1]: import datetime

In [2]: t = datetime.time(0, 0, 0)

In [3]: print t
00:00:00

answered Sep 5, 2012 at 23:47

sandesh247

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Comments

Ry- · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-05 23:45:17Z

9

It's the fact that you're importing a conflicting datetime from datetime. You probably meant time, except you're also importing a conflicting time. So how about:

import datetime as dt

and

t = dt.time(0, 0, 0)

answered Sep 5, 2012 at 23:45

Ry-♦

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Comments

Andrea · Accepted Answer · 2025-10-24 11:50:40Z

0

perhaps it could be easier doing like this:

from datetime import datetime, time

now = datetime.now()

if now.time() > time(13,45,00):
    print("Current time is after 13:45:00")
else:
    print("Current time is not after 13:45:00")

so you can keep going using datetime.strftime, datetime.strptime etc. as well as the time constructor

answered Oct 24 at 11:50

Andrea

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