python / python/cpython

Update `str*time` to C11 format codes

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#140,715 2 comments 3 reactions 1 assignee View on GitHub

@StanFromIreland is already working on this.

Since Oct 28, 2025.

docs stdlib tests type-feature
Dominant language
Python
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Description

Feature or enhancement

There are several things to do, these are already supported by strftime but some (support for a few was added recently but not documented) are not supported by strptime (e.g. %t is not supported).

  • Update docs, currently the table is a bit messy with non-standard format codes listed, i.e. %f, and quite a few codes are missing.
  • Refactor strftime tests, they were written when the format codes were not expected.
  • Complete strptime, e.g. %n.
  • Document that strptime collapses whitespace, %t an %n
  • Consider: Add an entry to What's New

I will be working on this and most likely extending this list.

Linked PRs
  • gh-140716
  • gh-140647
  • gh-123980
  • gh-144819
  • gh-144896
  • gh-145388
  • gh-145389
  • gh-145955

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  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

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