Add decorator to optionally format dates as string

faker/providers/date_time/__init__.py

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import functools
 import platform
 import re
 
@@ -33,6 +34,19 @@ def timestamp_to_datetime(timestamp: Union[int, float], tzinfo: Optional[TzInfo]
     return convert_timestamp_to_datetime(timestamp, tzinfo)
 
 
+def maybe_format_as_string(func):
+    """Format date as string if a pattern is provided."""
+    @functools.wraps(func)
+    def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
+        result: dtdate = func(*args, **kwargs)
+        pattern = kwargs.get('pattern')
+        if pattern:
+            return result.strftime(pattern)
+        return result
+    return wrapper
+
+
+
 def change_year(current_date: dtdate, year_diff: int) -> dtdate:
     """
     Unless the current_date is February 29th, it is fine to just subtract years.
@@ -2167,18 +2181,21 @@ def date_time_between_dates(
             )
         return pick
 
+    @maybe_format_as_string
     def date_between_dates(
         self,
         date_start: Optional[DateParseType] = None,
         date_end: Optional[DateParseType] = None,
-    ) -> dtdate:
+        pattern: Optional[str] = None,
+    ) -> Union[dtdate, str]:
         """
         Takes two Date objects and returns a random date between the two given dates.
         Accepts Date or datetime objects
 
         :param date_start: Date
         :param date_end: Date
-        :return: Date
+        :param pattern: optional pattern to format the date as string
+        :return: Date or string
         """
         return self.date_time_between_dates(date_start, date_end).date()
 

tests/providers/test_date_time.py

@@ -272,6 +272,15 @@ def test_date_between_dates(self):
         assert date_start <= random_date
         assert date_end >= random_date
 
+    def test_date_string_between_dates(self):
+        date_end = date.today()
+        date_start = date_end - timedelta(days=10)
+        date_format = "%Y-%m-%d"
+
+        date_string = self.fake.date_between_dates(date_start, date_end, pattern=date_format)
+        assert isinstance(date_string, str)
+        assert isinstance(datetime.strptime(date_string, date_format), datetime)
+
     def test_date_time_between_long_past_dates(self):
         random_date = self.fake.date_between("-100y", "-50y")
         assert random_date