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Python date toordinal() Method with Example

Python date.toordinal() Method: Here, we are going to learn about the toordinal() method of date class in Python with its definition, syntax, and examples.
Submitted by Hritika Rajput, on April 29, 2020

Python date.toordinal() Method

date.toordinal() method is used to manipulate objects of date class of module datetime.

It is used to return the proleptic Gregorian ordinal of the date, where January 1 of year 1 has ordinal 1. If January 1 of year 1 has ordinal number 1 then January 2 year 1 will have ordinal number 2 and so on. It is an instance method which means that it works on an instance of the class.

Module:

    import datetime

Class:

    from datetime import date

Syntax:

    toordinal()

Parameter(s):

• None

Return value:

The return type of this method is a number which is the ordinal number of that date in Gregorian calendar.

Example:

## importing date class

from datetime import date

## Creating an instance
x = date(2020,10,27)
d = x.toordinal()
print("Ordinal number of date ",x," is:", d)
print()

## Using today' date
x = date.today()
d = x.toordinal()
print("Ordinal number of date ",x," is:", d)
print()

x = date(1, 1, 1)
d = x.toordinal()
print("Ordinal number of the earliest possible date allowed",x," is:", d)
print()

x = date(9999, 12, 31)
d = x.toordinal()
print("Ordinal number of the largest maximum date allowed",x," is:", d)
print()

Output

Ordinal number of date  2020-10-27  is: 737725

Ordinal number of date  2020-04-29  is: 737544

Ordinal number of the earliest possible date allowed 0001-01-01  is: 1

Ordinal number of the largest maximum date allowed 9999-12-31  is: 3652059

Note: Date should be in the given range otherwise it will show a ValueError.

Example:

## importing date class

from datetime import date

## Creating an instance
x = date(99999, 12, 31)
d = x.toordinal()
print("Ordinal number of the date",x," is:", d)
print()

Output

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "main.py", line 6, in <module>
    x = date(99999, 12, 31)
ValueError: year 99999 is out of range