# parse_datetime
[](https://crates.io/crates/parse_datetime)
[](https://github.com/uutils/parse_datetime/blob/main/LICENSE)
[](https://codecov.io/gh/uutils/parse_datetime)
[](https://codspeed.io/uutils/parse_datetime?utm_source=badge)
A Rust crate for parsing human-readable relative time strings and
human-readable datetime strings.
## Features
- Parses a variety of human-readable and standard time formats.
- Supports positive and negative durations.
- Allows for chaining time units (e.g., "1 hour 2 minutes" or "2 days 2 hours ago").
- Calculate durations relative to a specified date.
- Relies on Jiff
## Usage
Add `parse_datetime` to your `Cargo.toml` with:
```
cargo add parse_datetime
```
Then, import the crate and use the `parse_datetime_at_date` function:
```rs
use jiff::{ToSpan, Zoned};
use parse_datetime::{parse_datetime_at_date, ParsedDateTime};
let now = Zoned::now();
let after = parse_datetime_at_date(now.clone(), "+3 days");
match after.unwrap() {
ParsedDateTime::InRange(z) => assert_eq!(now.checked_add(3.days()).unwrap(), z),
ParsedDateTime::Extended(_) => unreachable!("unexpected for this input"),
}
```
For DateTime parsing, import the `parse_datetime` function:
```rs
use jiff::{civil::{date, time} ,Zoned};
use parse_datetime::{parse_datetime, ParsedDateTime};
let dt = parse_datetime("2021-02-14 06:37:47");
match dt.unwrap() {
ParsedDateTime::InRange(z) => assert_eq!(z, Zoned::now().with().date(date(2021, 2, 14)).time(time(6, 37, 47, 0)).build().unwrap()),
ParsedDateTime::Extended(_) => unreachable!("unexpected for this input"),
}
```
For years beyond jiff's representable range (e.g., year 10000+), the result is an `ExtendedDateTime`:
```rs
use parse_datetime::{parse_datetime, ParsedDateTime};
let dt = parse_datetime("12000-01-01").unwrap();
match dt {
ParsedDateTime::Extended(ext) => {
assert_eq!(ext.year, 12000);
assert_eq!(ext.month, 1);
assert_eq!(ext.day, 1);
}
ParsedDateTime::InRange(_) => unreachable!("year 12000 is out of jiff range"),
}
```
### Supported Formats
The `parse_datetime` and `parse_datetime_at_date` functions support absolute datetime and the following relative times:
- `num` `unit` (e.g., "-1 hour", "+3 days")
- `unit` (e.g., "hour", "day")
- "now" or "today"
- "yesterday"
- "tomorrow"
- use "ago" for the past
- use "next" or "last" with `unit` (e.g., "next week", "last year")
- unix timestamps (for example "@0" "@1344000")
`num` can be a positive or negative integer.
`unit` can be one of the following: "fortnight", "week", "day", "hour", "minute", "min", "second", "sec" and their plural forms.
## Return Values
### parse_datetime and parse_datetime_at_date
The `parse_datetime` and `parse_datetime_at_date` function return:
- `Ok(ParsedDateTime)` - If the input string can be parsed
- `ParsedDateTime::InRange(Zoned)` for years supported by `jiff::Zoned`
- `ParsedDateTime::Extended(ExtendedDateTime)` for out-of-range years (for example `>9999`)
- `Err(ParseDateTimeError::InvalidInput)` - If the input string cannot be parsed
## Fuzzer
To run the fuzzer:
```
$ cd fuzz
$ cargo install cargo-fuzz
$ cargo +nightly fuzz run fuzz_parse_datetime
```
## License
This project is licensed under the [MIT License](LICENSE).
## Note
At some point, this crate was called humantime_to_duration.
It has been renamed to cover more cases.