How to Convert One Date Format to Another in PHP

1. Use date() and strtotime() Functions to Convert One Date Format to Another in PHP
2. Use createFromFormat() and format() Functions to Convert One Date Format to Another in PHP

In this article, we will introduce methods to convert one Date format to another in PHP.

• Using date() and strtotime() function
• Using createFromFormat() and format() function

Use date() and strtotime() Functions to Convert One Date Format to Another in PHP

The date() function converts a timestamp to a date. The correct syntax to use this function is as follows

date( $format, $timestamp);

$format is the specific format in which the date is converted.

$timestamp is an optional parameter. It gives the date according to the timestamp passed. If it omitted, then we will get the current date.

The function strtotime() is a built-in function in PHP. This function converts a date to the time. The correct syntax to use this function is as follows.

strtotime($dateString, $timeNow);

$dateString is a mandatory parameter, and it is the string representation of a date.

$timeNow is an optional parameter. It is the timestamp that is used for calculating relative dates.

<?php
$originalDate = "2020-04-29";
//original date is in format YYYY-mm-dd
$timestamp = strtotime($originalDate); 
$newDate = date("m-d-Y", $timestamp );
echo "The new date is $newDate.";
?>

We have used date() and strtotime() function to convert one date format to another. The function strtotime() has converted the original date to a timestamp. This timestamp is then converted to date of the required format using date() function.

Output:

The new date is 04-29-2020.

Use createFromFormat() and format() Functions to Convert One Date Format to Another in PHP

The function createFromFormat() is a built-in function in PHP. This function converts a timestamp or date string to a DateTime object. The correct syntax to use this function is as follows.

DateTime::createFromFormat($format, $time, $timezone);

The variable $format is the format of the date, $time is the time or date given in string, and $timezone gives the time zone. The first two parameters are the mandatory parameters.

The format() function is used to format a date to the required format. The correct syntax to use this function is

$datetimeObject->format($formatString); 

The parameter $formatString specifies the required format.

<?php
$originalDate = "2020-04-29";
//original date is in format YYYY-mm-dd
$DateTime = DateTime::createFromFormat('Y-m-d', $originalDate);
$newDate = $DateTime->format('m-d-Y');
echo "The new date is $newDate.";
?>

Here, we have created a DateTime object using createFromFormat() function. The DateTime object then calls the format() function to convert one date format to another.

Output:

The new date is 04-29-2020.