parsedatetime
Parse human-readable date/time text.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to parse casual, human-readable date strings. The package is stable, dependency-free, and widely used (top 1000 on PyPI). The main caveat is the gap between the latest release (2020-05-31) and current date—verify that it handles your target Python version and date formats before committing to it in new projects.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low friction installation with no runtime dependencies.
- Actively maintained as of 2026-07-18 with a stable production status, though the latest release was in 2020-05-31.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache License 2.0 (permissive) — Licensed under Apache License 2.0 (permissive), allowing free use, modification, and distribution in both open and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2020-05-31 (2266 days) · last repo commit 2026-07-18 · 711 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 35,034,666 downloads/mo, #751 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import parsedatetime
from datetime import datetime
cal = parsedatetime.Calendar()
time_struct, parse_status = cal.parse("tomorrow")
dt = datetime(*time_struct[:6])- Whether the package actively accepts and merges pull requests, given the 2020-05-31 latest release date despite active repository status
- Current Python version support matrix beyond the classifiers (2.7, 3.7 listed but modern Python compatibility unclear)
What it is and what it does
parsedatetime converts natural language date and time expressions into structured time values that Python can work with. It accepts phrases like "tomorrow", "next Friday", or "in 3 weeks" and returns both a time tuple and a parse status code indicating confidence. The core Calendar class handles the parsing, and you can convert results to Python datetime objects or use timezone-aware parsing via the parseDT method with pytz.
The package has no runtime dependencies and installs cleanly via pip. It's classified as Production/Stable and has been in active development since 2007, though the most recent release dates to 2020. The repository remains active with recent commits, suggesting ongoing maintenance despite the gap in formal releases.
Use it for
- Parse user input in chat applications or voice assistants to convert spoken/typed time references into calendar events
- Build scheduling tools that accept natural language like "remind me in 2 hours" or "meeting next Tuesday at 3pm"
- Process log timestamps or user-provided date strings in data pipelines without requiring strict format specification
- Add timezone-aware date parsing to web forms that accept casual date entry like "tomorrow" or "this Friday"
- Implement relative date filtering in search interfaces where users say "last month" or "past 7 days"
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to parse casual, human-readable date strings.
The package is stable, dependency-free, and widely used (top 1000 on PyPI). The main caveat is the gap between the latest release (2020-05-31) and current date—verify that it handles your target Python version and date formats before committing to it in new projects.
Install
parsedatetime on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction installation with no runtime dependencies. Actively maintained as of 2026-07-18 with a stable production status, though the latest release was in 2020-05-31.
License in practice
Licensed under Apache License 2.0 (permissive), allowing free use, modification, and distribution in both open and proprietary projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
import parsedatetime
from datetime import datetime
cal = parsedatetime.Calendar()
time_struct, parse_status = cal.parse("tomorrow")
dt = datetime(*time_struct[:6])Verify before relying
- Whether the package actively accepts and merges pull requests, given the 2020-05-31 latest release date despite active repository status
- Current Python version support matrix beyond the classifiers (2.7, 3.7 listed but modern Python compatibility unclear)
Package facts
| License | Apache License 2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 2,266 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 35,034,666 / month, #751 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python ModulesTopic :: Text Processing |
Evidence: parsedatetime-2.6-py3-none-any.whl
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