Convert DataFrame column type from string to datetime, dd/mm/yyyy format

Question

How can I convert a DataFrame column of strings (in dd/mm/yyyy format) to datetimes?

Answer 1

If you have a mixture of formats in your date, don't forget to set infer_datetime_format=True to make life easier

df['date'] = pd.to_datetime(df['date'], infer_datetime_format=True)

Source: pd.to_datetime

or if you want a customized approach:

def autoconvert_datetime(value):
    formats = ['%m/%d/%Y', '%m-%d-%y']  # formats to try
    result_format = '%d-%m-%Y'  # output format
    for dt_format in formats:
        try:
            dt_obj = datetime.strptime(value, dt_format)
            return dt_obj.strftime(result_format)
        except Exception as e:  # throws exception when format doesn't match
            pass
    return value  # let it be if it doesn't match

df['date'] = df['date'].apply(autoconvert_datetime)