PHP Date() Function
The PHP date() function is used to format a time and/or date.
The PHP Date() Function
The PHP date() function formats a timestamp to a more readable date and time.
 A timestamp is a sequence of
characters, denoting the date and/or time at which a certain event occurred.
Syntax
| Parameter |
Description |
| format |
Required. Specifies
the format of the timestamp |
| timestamp |
Optional. Specifies a timestamp. Default is the current
date and time |
PHP Date() - Format the Date
The required format parameter in the date() function specifies how to format the
date/time.
Here are some characters that can be used:
- d - Represents the day of the month (01 to 31)
- m - Represents a month (01 to 12)
- Y - Represents a year (in four digits)
A list of all the characters that can be used in the format parameter, can
be found in our PHP Date reference.
Other characters, like"/", ".", or "-" can also be inserted between the
letters to add additional formatting:
<?php
echo date("Y/m/d") . "<br />";
echo date("Y.m.d") . "<br />";
echo date("Y-m-d")
?>
|
The output of the code above could be something like this:
2009/05/11
2009.05.11
2009-05-11
|
PHP Date() - Adding a Timestamp
The optional timestamp parameter in the date() function specifies a timestamp. If you do not
specify a timestamp, the
current date and time will be used.
The mktime() function returns the Unix timestamp for a date.
The Unix timestamp contains the number of seconds between the Unix Epoch
(January 1 1970 00:00:00 GMT) and the time specified.
Syntax for mktime()
|
mktime(hour,minute,second,month,day,year,is_dst)
|
To go one day in the future we simply add one to the day argument of mktime():
<?php
$tomorrow = mktime(0,0,0,date("m"),date("d")+1,date("Y"));
echo "Tomorrow is ".date("Y/m/d", $tomorrow);
?>
|
The output of the code above could be something like this:
Complete PHP Date Reference
For a complete reference of all date functions, go to our
complete PHP Date Reference.
The reference contains a brief description, and examples of use, for each
function!
Start Creating a stunning, Flash website. It's easy and free!
Wix.com offers you a simple, powerful, drag & drop editing platform to create stunning Flash websites, layouts, and more.
With added e-commerce features such as search engine visibility and professional tools, Wix is the ultimate solution for creating a spectacular site.
 |
W3Schools' Online Certification Program
The perfect solution for professionals who need to balance work, family, and career building.
More than 4500 certificates already issued!
|
The HTML Certificate documents your knowledge of HTML, XHTML, and CSS.
The JavaScript Certificate documents your knowledge of JavaScript and HTML DOM.
The XML Certificate documents your knowledge of XML, XML DOM and XSLT.
The ASP Certificate documents your knowledge of ASP, SQL, and ADO.
The PHP Certificate documents your knowledge of PHP and SQL (MySQL).
| 
