How to Compare Dates in Python?

To compare dates in Python, you can use the date objects from the datetime module. Here are a few approaches to comparing dates:

1. Comparison Operators: You can use comparison operators (<, <=, >, >=, ==, !=) to compare date objects directly.

from datetime import date

date1 = date(2023, 5, 28)
date2 = date(2023, 5, 29)

if date1 < date2:
    print("date1 is earlier than date2")
elif date1 > date2:
    print("date1 is later than date2")
else:
    print("date1 and date2 are equal")

In this example, date1 is earlier than date2, so the output will be “date1 is earlier than date2”. The comparison operators allow you to compare the dates based on their chronological order.

2. Method-Based Comparison: The date object in Python provides methods such as today() and replace() that allow you to compare dates or perform date manipulations.

from datetime import date

today = date.today()
target_date = date(2023, 5, 28)

if today < target_date:
    print("Today is earlier than the target date")
elif today > target_date:
    print("Today is later than the target date")
else:
    print("Today is the same as the target date")

In this example, the today() method is used to get the current date, and it is compared to the target_date. The comparison determines whether the current date is earlier, later, or the same as the target date.

These are the basic methods for comparing dates in Python. You can use the appropriate approach based on your specific requirements. Comparison operators (<, <=, >, >=, ==, !=) are commonly used for simple comparisons, while method-based comparisons are useful for more complex scenarios involving date manipulation and comparison.