**Pandas** is a Python library that is primarily used for data analysis.
Dates are often provided in different formats and must be converted into single format DateTime objects before analysis. This is where `pandas.to_datetime()` comes in handy.

![](/api/edpresso/shot/5011397073174528/image/5846876660170752)

Let's go over some of the most frequently used parameters that this function takes:

* **arg**: an integer, float, string, list, or dict object to convert into a DateTime object.
* **dayfirst**: set it to true if the input contains the day first.
* **yearfirst**: set it to true if the input contains the year first.
* **utc**: returns the UTC DatetimeIndex if True.
* **format**: specifies the position of the day, month, and year in the date.

# Code

## Using `pandas.to_datetime()` with a date

import pandas as pd
# input in mm.dd.yyyy format
date = ['01.02.2019']
# output in yyyy-mm-dd format
print(pd.to_datetime(date))

## Using `pandas.to_datetime()` with a date and time

import pandas as pd
# date (mm.dd.yyyy) and time (H:MM:SS)
date = ['01.02.2019 1:30:00 PM']
# output in yyyy-mm-dd HH:MM:SS
print(pd.to_datetime(date))

## Using `pandas.to_datetime()` with dates in dd-mm-yyyy and yy-mm-dd format

import pandas as pd 
# pandas interprets this date to be in m-d-yyyy format
print(pd.to_datetime('8-2-2019'))
# if the specified date contains the day first, then 
# that has to be specified.
# output in yyyy-mm-dd format.
print(pd.to_datetime('8-2-2019', dayfirst = True))
# if the specified date contains the year first, then 
# that has to be specified.
# output in yyyy-mm-dd format.
print(pd.to_datetime('10-2-8', yearfirst = True))

## Using `pandas.to_datetime()` to specify a format

import pandas as pd 
date = '2019-07-31 12:00:00-UTC'
print(pd.to_datetime(date, format = '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S-%Z'))

 ### Using `pandas.to_datetime()` to obtain a timezone-aware timestamp

import pandas as pd 
date = '2019-01-01T15:00:00+0100'
print(pd.to_datetime(date, utc = True))

What is the pandas.to_datetime() method?

Converts various date formats into standardized DateTime objects for streamlined data analysis.

What is the pandas.to_datetime() method?

Code

Using pandas.to_datetime() with a date

Using pandas.to_datetime() with a date and time

Using pandas.to_datetime() with dates in dd-mm-yyyy and yy-mm-dd format

Using pandas.to_datetime() to specify a format

Using pandas.to_datetime() to obtain a timezone-aware timestamp

Using `pandas.to_datetime()` with a date

Using `pandas.to_datetime()` with a date and time

Using `pandas.to_datetime()` with dates in dd-mm-yyyy and yy-mm-dd format

Using `pandas.to_datetime()` to specify a format

Using `pandas.to_datetime()` to obtain a timezone-aware timestamp