In Python 3.9 and later, the zoneinfo module is the recommended tool for handling timezones, replacing the pytz library.
This recommendation is based on several key advantages.
First, zoneinfo is part of Python’s standard library, making it readily available without needing additional installation, unlike
pytz.
Second, zoneinfo integrates seamlessly with Python’s datetime module. You can directly use zoneinfo timezone objects when
creating datetime objects, making it more intuitive and less error-prone than pytz, which requires a separate localize
method for this purpose.
Third, zoneinfo handles historical timezone changes more accurately than pytz. When a pytz timezone object
is used, it defaults to the earliest known offset, which can lead to unexpected results. zoneinfo does not have this issue.
Lastly, zoneinfo uses the system’s IANA time zone database when available, ensuring it works with the most up-to-date timezone data.
In contrast, pytz includes its own copy of the IANA database, which may not be as current.
In summary, zoneinfo offers a more modern, intuitive, and reliable approach to handling timezones in Python 3.9 and later, making it
the preferred choice over pytz.
