How Can I Compare Dates with Custom Formats in PHP?

Comparing Dates in PHP with Custom Formats

In PHP, comparing dates is a common task. However, when dealing with dates in specific formats, it can be challenging. Let's consider a scenario where dates are given in the format '03_01_12' and '31_12_11'.

Using strtotime

You attempted to compare dates using strtotime, which converts human-readable dates into timestamps. While this approach works for standard date formats, it fails with custom formats like yours.

Solution: DateTime::createFromFormat

To resolve this issue, we can utilize DateTime::createFromFormat. This function allows us to create DateTime objects from dates with custom formats. Using this function, we have the following code:

<?php $format = "d_m_y";
$date1 = \DateTime::createFromFormat($format, "03_01_12");
$date2 = \DateTime::createFromFormat($format, "31_12_11");

var_dump($date1 > $date2);
?>

In this code:

• $format defines the custom date format.
• DateTime::createFromFormat creates DateTime objects for both dates.
• The var_dump statement compares the two DateTime objects using the > operator, resulting in a Boolean value.

By using DateTime::createFromFormat, we can correctly compare dates in the specified custom format.

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