PHP - How to find if a date is between 2 dates

Question

I get some datas with dates from a database :

$data['my_date'])

Type is date : YYYY-MM-DD

I would like to make with PHP a condition to found if $data['my_date']) is between 2 dates like :

if ($data['my_date'] >= 2009-01-01 && $data['my_date'] <= 2009-12-31) {
    $datas = '5';
}
else {
    $datas = 1;
}

It doesn't work as expected, the condition is not verified. What should i do ?

You need to quote your dates, or else they are being interpreted as integer operations (`2009-01-01 == 2007`) — Carlos Campderrós, Jul 30 '13 at 10:52
@CarlosCampderrós you should post your answer ("need to quote your dates") because it was the solution. I'm confused to have made this mistake. — Sébastien Gicquel, Jul 30 '13 at 11:05
@SébastienGicquel posted as answer. And don't worry, we all have had silly unexplainable mistakes in the past ;-) — Carlos Campderrós, Jul 30 '13 at 13:15

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 30 '13 at 10:48

1

You need to convert all dates by strtotime() to timestamp and then compare them.

strtotime($data['my_date']) >= strtotime('2009-01-01')...

answered Jul 30 '13 at 10:48

no need to call `strtotime` if all dates are `YYYY-MM-DD` (this format is sortable alphabetically/numerically). – Carlos Campderrós Jul 30 '13 at 10:52
@Carlos: there is no guarantee, be on safe side is better – Jul 30 '13 at 10:53
1

@RaheelHasan Thanks, really easy, i've tried with strtotime() before but it didn't work because i forgot the quote ' ' around the date strtotime('2009-01-01') – Sébastien Gicquel Jul 30 '13 at 10:55

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 30 '13 at 10:49

1

You use either strtotime() or mktime() to convert your dates into timestamp, then compare it.

answered Jul 30 '13 at 10:49

Raheel Hasan

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score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 30 '13 at 13:15

There is no literal syntax for dates, you should enclose them in quotes and treat them as strings. If you are using the YYYY-MM-DD format, then it is sortable alphabetically, and your current method should work.

if ($data['my_date'] >= '2009-01-01' && $data['my_date'] <= '2009-12-31') {
    $datas = '5';
}
else {
    $datas = 1;
}

If you don't quote your dates, you are doing integer operations:

$data['my_date'] >= 2009-01-01  ====> $data['my_date'] >= 2007

PHP - How to find if a date is between 2 dates

3 Answers3