A simple step by step guide for beginners on using the PHP date( ) functions. Included a part 2 exercise.

1. A
simple
PHP
exercise
on
date(
)
Exercise:
Given
the
following
codes:
Today's date is
<?php
echo date("");
?>
<br>
The time now on the server is
<?php
echo date("");
?>
Modify
the
code
so
that
you
will
get
the
following
output:
Today's date is Thu, 16-Jan-2014
The time now on the server is 13:12:04
Part
1
Step
by
Step:
Step
1:
From
the
given
information,
we
are
able
to
put
in
the
comma,
the
blank
space
and
the
dashes
into
the
date(
)
function
as
follows:
Today's
date
is
<?php
echo
date("?,
?-­‐?-­‐?");
?>
Step
2:
find
the
appropriate
format
to
replace
the
?
Locate
the
php
Manual
by:
1. Google
“php
manual”
and
click
on
the
appropriate
link:

2.
2. Use
the
searchbox
on
the
right
side,
type
“date”
and
click
on
the
“date”
function:
3. Refer
to
the
formats
listed,
such
as:
:
:
:
4. Put
the
above
format
into
the
date(
)
function
and
run
the
code
through
your
XAMPP
or
WAMP
servers:
Today's
date
is
<?php
echo
date("D,
d-­‐M-­‐Y");
?>
Output:
Today's date is Tue, 21-Jan-2014
Part
2:
Now
try
Part
2
on
your
own.
Answer
on
the
next
page.
The
time
now
on
the
server
is
<?php
echo
date("");
?>
The time now on the server is 13:12:04

3. Solution:
The
time
now
on
the
server
is
<?php
echo
date("G:i:s");
?>
Extra
–
setting
the
correct
timezone
There
are
two
ways
to
set
the
timezone:
1. Use
the
date.timezone
setting
in
the
php.ini
file
–
this
will
affect
all
php
files.
Change
from
the
default
to
your
own
timezone
eg
Asia/Singapore
2. Use
the
date_default_timezone_set()
function
before
the
date(
)
function–
this
will
only
affect
the
current
file.
Today's
date
is
<?php
date_default_timezone_set("Asia/Singapore");
echo
date("D,
d-­‐M-­‐Y");
?>