PHP - date('DATE_RFC850') produces curious result

Question

I tried to get the date with this constant, but instead of something like

Monday, 15-Aug-05 15:52:01 UTC

I get

MonAMPDTE_RJulyC850.

So it doesn't return a String but a Datetime or something, but then why does

$date = date('l, d-M-y H:i:s T');

Return exactly what I wanted (f.e.:Monday, 15-Aug-05 15:52:01 UTC)?

I'm just wondering why it returns different types on same input, because
DATE_RFC850 is just a string too: const string RFC850 = "l, d-M-y H:i:s T".

Also, if it's a constant, it should be like `date(RFC850)` (without quotes) — casraf, Jul 08 '13 at 14:59
Also you should pass it like variable to date function, but not like string in quotes — Vadym Kovalenko, Jul 08 '13 at 14:59
Relevant reading: [quoting constants in php: "this is a MY_CONSTANT"](https://stackoverflow.com/q/1563654/2943403) and [Constants inside quotes are not printed?](https://stackoverflow.com/q/2937204/2943403) — mickmackusa, Apr 28 '22 at 04:11

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 08 '13 at 15:00

5

To use a constant, don't use quotes:

date(DATE_RFC850);

instead of

date('DATE_RFC850');

answered Jul 08 '13 at 15:00

Bart Friederichs

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score 1 · Answer 2 · edited May 05 '17 at 21:24

RTM: http://php.net/date lists the acceptable formatting characters for a date. DATE_RFC850 is not a valid formatting "string", except when considered as its individual components:

D - Mon-Sun
A - AM/PM
T - timezone, e.g. CST
E - not a valid char, used as literal output
_ - not a valid char, used as literal output
etc...

'DATE_RFC850' is a STRING. You want the constant, e.g.

echo date(DATE_RFC850); // note the lack of ' quotes

which does output your expected format:

Monday, 08-Jul-13 09:00:29 CST

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 08 '13 at 15:02

0

Use the below code,

<?php
echo date(DATE_RFC850); // you dont have to put it in quotes
?>

Output

Monday, 08-Jul-13 20:32:29 IST

answered Jul 08 '13 at 15:02

PHP - date('DATE_RFC850') produces curious result

3 Answers3