Home / ubuntu / Questions / 335571
Accepted
Adrian George
Asked: 2013-08-22 14:03:14 +0800 CST

How do I tell the `date` command to only show the time?

  • 772

I am trying to display only the current time using "date", not all that information Day, Month, Year etc.. , only the current time.

i.e.:

13:45 or 1:45pm

Any ideas?

command-line

5 Answers

  1. Best Answer
    date +%R

    will show you the 24 hour time, and 

    date +%r

    will show you the time in 12 hour format. date +%H:%I also works.

    Check out the "Conversion Specifications" in the manpage for more variables to pick and choose.

    • 19

  2. Current time 24h format:

    date +%R

    Current time 12h format with AM/PM:

    date +%I:%M%p
    • 4 
  3. date +%H:%M

    for 13:45

    date +%H:%M #(if you don't write these : it is shown as for exmp. 0145)

    for 01:45

    "uptime"

    will tell how long the system has been running (along with other information) check man entry for uptime

    • 3

  4. I use this:

    date +%T

    for nanoseconds use this:

    date +%T.%N

    Example outputs:

    $ date +%T
19:23:34
$ date +%T.%N
19:23:38.780062589
    • 2

  5. last displays info about recent logins. See http://linux.about.com/library/cmd/blcmdl1_last.htm for more info about it. I think it can show shutdowns too. For the time try date +%r. See http://linux.about.com/od/commands/l/blcmdl1_date.htm for more info on date.

    • 0