How would I compute exactly 30 days into the past with Python (down to the minute)?

Question

In Python, I'm attempting to retrieve the date/time that is exactly 30 days (30*24hrs) into the past. At present, I'm simply doing:

>>> import datetime
>>> start_date = datetime.date.today() + datetime.timedelta(-30)

Which returns a datetime object, but with no time data:

>>> start_date.year
2009
>>> start_date.hour
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
AttributeError: 'datetime.date' object has no attribute 'hour'

Not really sure why someone -1'd this. – Nick Sergeant Apr 01 '09 at 13:51 — Nick Sergeant, Apr 01 '09 at 13:51

score 134 · Accepted Answer · edited Feb 23 '20 at 15:26

134

You want to use a datetime object instead of just a date object:

start_date = datetime.datetime.now() - datetime.timedelta(30)

date just stores a date and time just a time. datetime is a date with a time.

edited Feb 23 '20 at 15:26

Arkistarvh Kltzuonstev

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answered Apr 01 '09 at 03:01

sth

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29

Works same way, but I like to look at it this way `datetime.datetime.now() - datetime.timedelta(days=30)` – radtek Dec 27 '18 at 20:55
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Because **explicit is better than implicit**, I do prefer this. – therealak12 Jun 25 '20 at 15:08
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Also works for me: `datetime.datetime.today() - datetime.timedelta(days=30)` – claudius Sep 21 '21 at 13:07

How would I compute exactly 30 days into the past with Python (down to the minute)?

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