Convert Datetime To TimeStamp Using PHP 7

PHP supports date functions to handle date & time to implement and provide a method to convert human-readable dates to Unix Timestamp. One of those methods is strtotime().

You can also check other recommended Date PHP tutorials,

• How To Get Days difference From Date In PHP
• How to Convert Second into Day, Hour and Minute
• Convert Datetime To TimeStamp Using PHP 7

PHP strtotime

The strtotime() function in PHP translates an English textual date-time description to a UNIX timestamp. The strtotime() function takes an English string as an argument that represents the date-time information.

Syntax

strtotime(time, now);

Whereas:
– time : It specifies a date/time string.
– now : It is an optional parameter.The now parameter specifies the timestamp used to calculate the returned value.

Examples:

echo strtotime("now"), "\n";
echo strtotime("11 March 2022"), "\n";
echo strtotime("+1 day"), "\n";
echo strtotime("+2 week"), "\n";
echo strtotime("next Friday"), "\n";
echo strtotime("last Saturday"), "\n";

Output:

1646974188 
1646956800 
1647060588 
1648183788 
1647561600 
1646438400

Get Current Date in PHP

echo date("Y-m-d", strtotime("now"));

Output:

2022-03-11

Future Date in PHP

echo date("Y-m-d", strtotime("2022-03-11 +2 month"));

Output:

2022-05-11

Past Date in PHP

echo date("Y-m-d", strtotime("2022-03-11 -2 month"));

Output:

2022-01-11

strtotime to convert English text to a date

$textDate = "11th March 2022";

echo strtotime($textDate), "\n";

echo date("Y-m-d", strtotime($textDate))."\n";

Output:

1646956800
2022-03-11