How do I format a single digit month in C# date formatting?

Question

In C#, if I run this code, it prints out 05:

Console.WriteLine(DateTime.Now.ToString("MM"));

However, if I run this code, it prints out May 16:

Console.WriteLine(DateTime.Now.ToString("M"));

I'm looking for a date format that will print out 5. How do I format a single digit month? To be clear, it would be 1 digit for months 1 to 9, and 2 digits for months 10 to 12.

Answer 1

“%M" should work. See custom format strings

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Some explanation:

• The "M" can be part of a custom format string, where it means a "month number" in one or two digits
• But on itself it can also be a standard format string meaning a "month day pattern" - as the OP found out.

To resolve this ambiguity you can add a space, which makes it a custom format string, but also adds a space to the resulting value. Or you can add a %.

Right now (May) a DateTime.Now.ToString("%M") results in "5".