How Can I Easily Convert Date Formats in PHP?

Converting Date Formats with Ease in PHP

Need to transform a date from one format to another? PHP has you covered. Encountering an unexpected 1970-01-01 00:00:00 output when attempting date conversion? Fear not! Let's dive into the details.

To convert date formats, you'll need to use the date() function. But before you do, make sure you have a proper timestamp, which is the number of seconds since January 1, 1970.

Using strtotime()

If you have a date string and need to convert it to a timestamp, you can use the strtotime() function. However, be cautious, as strtotime() doesn't recognize every date format. It particularly struggles with the y-m-d-h-i-s format you're currently using.

PHP 5.3 and Up

PHP 5.3 and later introduce a powerful tool for date conversion: the DateTime class. It comes with the createFromFormat() method, which allows you to specify a mask to parse your date string, giving you greater flexibility.

PHP 5.2 and Lower

If you're working with PHP 5.2 or earlier, the process becomes a bit more manual. You'll need to manually extract the elements of the date string (year, month, day, etc.) using substr() and pass them to the mktime() function. Trust me; this option is far more tedious than using DateTime.

An Alternative Approach

For simplicity's sake, consider using a date format that strftime() can effortlessly process. This function is highly capable and eliminates the complexity of manual parsing. For instance, the following code snippet should work:

$old_date = date('l, F d y h:i:s');
$old_date_timestamp = strtotime($old_date);
$new_date = date('Y-m-d H:i:s', $old_date_timestamp);

With these options at your disposal, you're sure to conquer the task of converting date formats in PHP with ease.

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