DateTime Functions

Generate dates, timestamps, and time-related data

DateTime Functions

Generate realistic dates, timestamps, and time-related values.

generate_date

Generate random dates within a range.

Category: DateTime Type: Generator Data Types: date

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
`pattern`	string	`%Y-%m-%d`	Date format pattern
`start_date`	string	`-30y`	Start date (relative)
`end_date`	string	`today`	End date (relative)
`reference_date_column`	string	none	Column for reference date
`days_offset`	integer	0	Days to add/subtract

Relative Date Strings

Value	Meaning
`today`	Current date
`now`	Current datetime
`-1d`	1 day ago
`-1w`	1 week ago
`-1m`	1 month ago
`-1y`	1 year ago
`+1d`	1 day from now
`+1w`	1 week from now

Examples

Random date in last year:

columns:
  - name: created_date
    function: generate_date
    parameters:
      start_date: "-1y"
      end_date: "today"

Date in specific range:

columns:
  - name: historical_date
    function: generate_date
    parameters:
      start_date: "-10y"
      end_date: "-5y"

Relative to another column:

columns:
  - name: order_date
    function: generate_date
  - name: ship_date
    function: generate_date
    parameters:
      reference_date_column: order_date
      days_offset: 3

Custom format:

columns:
  - name: formatted_date
    function: generate_date
    parameters:
      pattern: "%m/%d/%Y"

Output Sample

2024-03-15
2023-11-22
2024-01-08

generate_datetime

Generate random datetime values.

Category: DateTime Type: Generator Data Types: datetime, timestamp

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
`start_date`	string	`-30y`	Start datetime
`end_date`	string	`now`	End datetime
`tzinfo`	string	none	Timezone info

Examples

Recent datetime:

columns:
  - name: created_at
    function: generate_datetime
    parameters:
      start_date: "-7d"
      end_date: "now"

Historical data:

columns:
  - name: transaction_time
    function: generate_datetime
    parameters:
      start_date: "-1y"
      end_date: "now"

Output Sample

2024-03-15T14:30:22
2024-02-28T09:15:45
2024-01-10T18:42:11

generate_birthdate

Generate realistic birth dates based on age constraints.

Category: DateTime Type: Generator Data Types: date

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
`minimum_age`	integer	18	Minimum age in years
`maximum_age`	integer	90	Maximum age in years

Examples

Adult employees (25-65):

columns:
  - name: date_of_birth
    function: generate_birthdate
    parameters:
      minimum_age: 25
      maximum_age: 65

Minors (0-17):

columns:
  - name: child_dob
    function: generate_birthdate
    parameters:
      minimum_age: 0
      maximum_age: 17

Seniors (65+):

columns:
  - name: senior_dob
    function: generate_birthdate
    parameters:
      minimum_age: 65
      maximum_age: 95

Output Sample

1985-06-15
1992-11-28
1978-03-04

Common Patterns

Order with Fulfillment Dates

columns:
  - name: order_date
    function: generate_date
    parameters:
      start_date: "-30d"
      end_date: "today"
  - name: ship_date
    function: generate_date
    parameters:
      reference_date_column: order_date
      days_offset: 2
  - name: delivery_date
    function: generate_date
    parameters:
      reference_date_column: ship_date
      days_offset: 5

Event with Start/End Times

columns:
  - name: event_start
    function: generate_datetime
    parameters:
      start_date: "+1d"
      end_date: "+30d"
  - name: event_end
    function: generate_datetime
    parameters:
      reference_date_column: event_start
      days_offset: 1

Contract Period

columns:
  - name: contract_start
    function: generate_date
  - name: contract_end
    function: generate_date
    parameters:
      reference_date_column: contract_start
      days_offset: 365

Date Format Patterns

Common format patterns for the pattern parameter:

Pattern	Example	Description
`%Y-%m-%d`	2024-03-15	ISO date
`%m/%d/%Y`	03/15/2024	US date
`%d/%m/%Y`	15/03/2024	European date
`%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S`	2024-03-15T14:30:00	ISO datetime
`%B %d, %Y`	March 15, 2024	Long date
`%Y`	2024	Year only
`%m-%Y`	03-2024	Month-Year

Date Transformers - Transform existing dates
Utility Functions - Calculate age from date

DateTime Functions