Passing simple php date variable to javascript

Question

I have this php:

<?php
$mytestdate = "Oct 23, 2019 20:00:00";
?>

This javascript does not give me the required output:

<script>
var mydate = "<?php echo $mytestdate; ?>";
// Set the date we're counting down to
var countDownDate = new Date(mydate).getTime();
</script>

This javascript does give me the desired output:

<script>
var mydate = "<?php echo $mytestdate; ?>";
// Set the date we're counting down to
var countDownDate = new Date("Oct 23, 2019 20:00:00").getTime();
</script>

What is going wrong?!

The output is either nothing or "NaNd NaNh NaNm NaNs".

you should **never** mix PHP and JS - they're different languages that get executed differently — treyBake, Oct 21 '19 at 13:35
try ```console.log(mydate)``` and see what is in there first, from there, you can know what's going wrong — Israel Obanijesu, Oct 21 '19 at 13:39
i hope this will help u: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/46109832/countdown-timer-php-javascript — devpro, Oct 21 '19 at 13:46
i am also using google chrome and both examples giving me timestamp value — devpro, Oct 21 '19 at 13:48

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 21 '19 at 13:52

3

So when you try to run this code in a HTML file you get NaN as you are claiming,

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
  <?php
   $mytestdate = "Oct 23, 2019 20:00:00";
  ?>
<script>
  var mydate = "<?php echo $mytestdate; ?>";
  var countDownDate = new Date(mydate).getTime();
  alert(countDownDate);
</script>

</body>
</html>

Now, try to save this in a file with .php extension. The code will work and return you the expected result

answered Oct 21 '19 at 13:52

Bilal Siddiqui

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– Neil Reardon Oct 21 '19 at 13:55
This is what is showing in the browser source. It does not seem to output the php. – Neil Reardon Oct 21 '19 at 13:58
@NeilReardon: so it means, your file extension is .PHP not .HTML right? – devpro Oct 21 '19 at 13:59
Yeah, that is what I am pointing. you have saved the file something as abc.html , Remember PHP is a server side language and should be saved in a file for eg. abc.php – Bilal Siddiqui Oct 21 '19 at 13:59
I am doing it all in Wordpress. The php code is in a plugin called "PHP Insert" and the javascript is in the page (Visual Composer). – Neil Reardon Oct 21 '19 at 14:02
If I put the date in then is works ok. I just cannot pass the variable (which I am reading from a mysql database). – Neil Reardon Oct 21 '19 at 14:02
– Neil Reardon Oct 21 '19 at 14:03
1

store your variable in a hidden input then get this hidden input value in your javascript @NeilReardon – devpro Oct 21 '19 at 14:04
2

@BilalSiddiqui: i like your answer ... – devpro Oct 21 '19 at 14:05
Thank you. I will do some research on hidden inputs now. – Neil Reardon Oct 21 '19 at 14:12

Passing simple php date variable to javascript

1 Answers1