how to convert object column in to datetime?

Question

I am trying to convert a column type to datetime

Value Format in Column: '2016-04-10 12:17:52'

df['dropoff_time']

output
0      2016-04-10 12:17:52
1      2016-04-13 06:44:12
2      2016-04-13 06:54:43
3      2016-04-13 08:33:50
Name: created_at_new, Length: 328, dtype: object

I am trying the following code:

df['created_at_new'] = pd.to_datetime(df['created_at_new'])

ValueError: day is out of range for month

Desired result is a datetime

('2010-11-12 00:00:00')

You have an invalid date, as the error suggests. Try with `pd.to_datetime(df['created_at_new'], errors='coerce')` to set it to a `NaT` — yatu, Aug 22 '19 at 12:11
probably oyu have something like: 2018-02-30, a date which not exists!!! — PV8, Aug 22 '19 at 12:20
Thank you guys, it worked, df['created_at_new'] = pd.to_datetime(df['created_at_new'], errors='coerce') — Vin Bolisetti, Aug 22 '19 at 12:47

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 22 '19 at 12:44

When I tried with the same example, it worked for me. Anyways in order to rectify the error, you can try the following:

Check whether you have the latest version of pandas. If not Update it and
Try mentioning the date format

df['created_at_new'] = pd.to_datetime(df['created_at_new'], format='%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')

Still, if it doesn't work. You can skip the one with error using the argument errors='coerce'. In the place of the skipped one, 'NaT' value will be added.

For more details, you check out this answer.

how to convert object column in to datetime?

1 Answers1