How to create filename containing date or time in Python

Prerequisite: DateTime module

In this article, we are going to see how to create filenames with dates or times using Python. 

For this, we will use the DateTime module. First, import the module and then get the current time with datetime.now() object. Now convert it into a string and then create a file with the file object like a regular file is created using file handling concepts in Python.

Example 1: Creating text file containing date/time 

Python3

# import module
from datetime import datetime

# get current date and time
current_datetime = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H-%M-%S")
print("Current date & time : ", current_datetime)

# convert datetime obj to string
str_current_datetime = str(current_datetime)

# create a file object along with extension
file_name = str_current_datetime+".txt"
file = open(file_name, 'w')

print("File created : ", file.name)
file.close()

Output:

Current date & time :  2023-05-11 07-21-36
File created :  2023-05-11 07-21-36.txt

Any type of file can be created in this manner if the required extension is provided correctly.

Example 2:  Creating CSV file containing date/time 

Python3

# import module
from datetime import datetime

# get current date and time
current_datetime = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H-%M-%S")
print("Current date & time : ", current_datetime)

# convert datetime obj to string
str_current_datetime = str(current_datetime)

# create a file object along with extension
file_name = str_current_datetime+".csv"
file = open(file_name, 'w')

print("File created : ", file.name)
file.close()

Output:

Current date & time :  2023-05-11 07-22-34
File created :  2023-05-11 07-22-34.csv