PHP DateTime() date issue

Question

$now = new DateTime();
print_r($now);
print $now->date; // print the current date

BUT if print_r($now); is comment it show error ?

$now = new DateTime();
print $now->date; // Notice: Undefined property: DateTime::$date in

There is no `date` defined in the member functions/attributes [DateTime](http://php.net/manual/en/class.datetime.php) — DevZer0, Jul 24 '13 at 07:52
Please do not use undocumented properties or bad things will happen. — PeeHaa, Jul 24 '13 at 08:02

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 24 '13 at 07:50

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There is no such property in this class. Use format function instead:

echo $date->format('d.m.Y H:i:s');

http://www.php.net/manual/en/datetime.format.php

answered Jul 24 '13 at 07:50

user4035

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score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 24 '13 at 07:50

0

This is a bug in PHP (I 'm not sure exactly which versions are affected).

Class DateTime does not have a date property, but calling print_r on it creates a "hidden" property that looks like it's there (it is displayed with print_r) but in reality is not (you cannot get its value).

Instead of this, use DateTime::format to get the date value in whatever format you want.

answered Jul 24 '13 at 07:50

Jon

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@downvoter: Did you test this yourself? Because I know for a fact I am correct. – Jon Jul 24 '13 at 07:52
Hmm, this is correct ... but it's also a dupe I believe :) – Ja͢ck Jul 24 '13 at 07:53
@Jack: Ya, I found the dupe and bug, CVed and linked. But sheesh. – Jon Jul 24 '13 at 07:55
I did know it was not possible to access the 'date' property, but I didn't know it was a bug. +1 – Benz Jul 24 '13 at 07:56
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@Benz Derick Rethans will tell you that it's by design ;-) – Ja͢ck Jul 24 '13 at 07:56

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 24 '13 at 07:51

0

When you want to print the date using the DateTime object, use the following method:

$Date = new DateTime();
$Date->format('d/m/Y H:i');

The following page can help you format the output:

http://php.net/manual/en/function.date.php

answered Jul 24 '13 at 07:51

Benz

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PHP DateTime() date issue

3 Answers3