Diff Checker in days with PHP

Question

    $date1 = "2018-10-10";
    $date2 = "2018-11-19";

    $date1 = date_create($date1);
    $date2 = date_create($date2);

    $diff = date_diff($date1,$date2);

    echo $diff;

When I try to output $diff, it gives me this error:

Recoverable fatal error: Object of class DateInterval could not be converted to string in C:\xampp\htdocs\grab.php on line 29

Help?

use `var_dump($diff);` to see what it contains, and check the [DateInterval](https://www.php.net/manual/en/class.dateinterval.php) documentation — aynber, Aug 21 '19 at 15:59

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 21 '19 at 15:59

1

How about using this to echo out the difference between your dates:

echo $diff->format("%R%a days");

instead of just

echo $diff;

answered Aug 21 '19 at 15:59

Devmix

1,599
5
36
73

Think you were quickest here. Thanks, progx :) – michaelmcgurk Aug 21 '19 at 16:03
1

@michaelmcgurk You can always mark my answer as the correct one :). Thanks – Devmix Aug 21 '19 at 16:26
Thanks again. Marked correct (finally!) :) – michaelmcgurk Aug 22 '19 at 10:07

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 21 '19 at 15:59

1

call DateInterval::format() to get the date difference in string.

echo $diff->format('%d days');

you can also read the manual: https://www.php.net/manual/en/dateinterval.format.php

answered Aug 21 '19 at 15:59

sid

365
2
11

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 21 '19 at 15:59

date_diff doesn't return a string but an object which represents the difference. You need call the format method on that object.

https://www.php.net/manual/en/datetime.diff.php#refsect1-datetime.diff-examples

$date1 = "2018-10-10";
$date2 = "2018-11-19";

$date1 = date_create($date1);
$date2 = date_create($date2);

$diff = date_diff($date1,$date2);
echo $diff->format('%R%a days');

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 21 '19 at 16:00

1

try:

echo $diff->format("%a");

answered Aug 21 '19 at 16:00

Manzolo

1,909
12
13

This works perfectly, thank you, Andrea :) – michaelmcgurk Aug 21 '19 at 16:03
you're welcome @michaelmcgurk! – Manzolo Aug 21 '19 at 16:04

Diff Checker in days with PHP

4 Answers4