---
title: "PHP Date() Function"
description: "PHP date () function is used for retrieving the current date and time from the server, you can used ‘date’ function to set the format of date and tim"
author: "Anonymous User"
published: 2011-09-12
updated: 2019-09-07
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/726/php-date-function
category: "php"
tags: ["php"]
reading_time: 3 minutes
---
# PHP Date() Function
PHP date () [function](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/43970/purchase-suitable-wedding-dresses-for-your-wedding-function) is used for retrieving the [current date](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/323/find-the-day-name-and-month-name-from-current-date) and time from the server, you can used ‘date’ function to set the format of date and time with many different ways.\
The PHP date () function formats a [timestamp](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/626/what-is-the-physical-storage-length-of-each-of-the-following-db2-data-types-date-time-timestamp) to a more readable date and time (where timestamp is a sequence of [characters](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/42112/who-is-the-originator-of-avengers-characters), denoting the date and/or time at which a certain event occurred).
##### The basic syntax of ‘date’ function is given follows.
##### Syntax:
date (Format, Timestamp) ;
Where [parameters](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/87/passing-parameters-in-c-sharp) are,
· **Format –** Specifies the format of timestamp, it is [required](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/81031/vigilence-required-during-corona-pandemic) parameter in date function.
· **Timestamp –** It is an [optional parameter](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/1310/how-do-i-simulate-optional-parameters-to-com-calls) which specifies the timestamp, default is date and time.
There are lots of characters used in PHP to modify format of date function. Here I am described some characters which is widely used in formatting of date function. Let’s see the brief description about these.
· **‘d’ :** [Character](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/23551/an-investigate-distinctive-seafood-restaurant-for-your-image-stamp-character) ‘d’ represents the day of the month.
· **‘m’ :** Character ‘m’ represents the month of year.
· **‘y’ :** Character ‘y’ represents the year.
##### Let’s we have an example, how to format date function in PHP.
##### Example:
```
Date Function "; echo "date format is y.m.d : ".date("y.m.d").""; echo "date format is y/m/d : ".date("y/m/d"); ?>
```
##### Output:
##### Adding Timestamp with date( ) function:
The optional timestamp parameter in the date () function specifies a timestamp. If you do not specify a timestamp, the current date and time will be used. “The ‘mktime()’ function returns the Unix timestamp for a date”. PHP time stamp is a numeric value in seconds between the Unix Epoch (January 1 1970 00:00:00 GMT) and the time specified.
##### Let’s we have an example, how to add timestamp with date function.
##### Syntax:
mktime( Hour, Minute, Second, Month ,Day, Year, is_dst);
Basically, mktime() function is useful for doing date arithmetic and validation.
Where all parameters are defined as:
· Hour: It is optional parameter which specifies the hour.
· Minute: It is optional parameter which specifies the minute.
· Second: It is optional parameter which specifies the second.
· Month: It is optional parameter which specifies the month of year.
· Day: It is optional parameter which specifies the day of month.
· Year: It is optional parameter which specifies the current year.
· is_dst: It is also optional parameter. This parameter can be set to 1 if the time is during daylight savings time (DST), 0 if it is not, or -1 (the default) if it is unknown whether the time is within daylight savings time or not.
**Note:** This parameter became deprecated in PHP 5. The new time zone handling features should be used instead.
##### Example:
```
Date Timestamp
```
##### Output:
\
---
Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/726/php-date-function
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