php DateTime object does not give me errors for an invalid date input?

Question

Why php DateTime object does not give me errors for an invalid date input? For instance,

$date_test = '13-10-31';

$datetime = new DateTime();
$date = $datetime->createFromFormat('Y-m-d', $date_test);
$date_errors = $datetime->getLastErrors();
print_r($date_errors);

result,

Array
(
    [warning_count] => 0
    [warnings] => Array
        (
        )

    [error_count] => 0
    [errors] => Array
        (
        )

)

I have set the date format to be 'Y-m-d' which is yyyy-mm-dd so '13-10-31' should be an error input isn't?

EDIT

if I change this line $datetime->createFromFormat('Y-m-d', $date_test); to

$datetime->createFromFormat('YY-m-d', $date_test);

I will get an error no matter what I input. For instance,

$date_test = '2013-10-31';

result,

Array
(
    [warning_count] => 0
    [warnings] => Array
        (
        )

    [error_count] => 2
    [errors] => Array
        (
            [4] => Unexpected data found.
            [10] => Data missing
        )

)

Why!??

What does `$date` look like? And how is that line (`$date = $datetime->createFromFormat('Y-m-d', $date_test);`) doing anything if you're not using `$date`? — JVE999, Sep 29 '13 at 07:06
As @Corrupt answered, 13 is translated as 13AD(Anno Domini). So very much of valid dates. — Lenin, Sep 29 '13 at 07:09
@Lenin Might I add, the year 13 is valid as well, although most of the people that lived that year have already died. — Oswald, Sep 29 '13 at 07:09

BlitZ · Answer 1 · 2013-09-29T07:39:30.593

5

echo $date->format('d-m-Y') showed 31-10-0013, so looks like php threating your date as normal.

UPDv1:

This is not mentioned in docs. Still if you look into echo $date->format('U'); it will give you a negative timestamp.

Since PHPv5.3.0 this feature is confirmed, according to 3v4l test.

edited Sep 29 '13 at 07:39

answered Sep 29 '13 at 07:06

BlitZ

12,038
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It's interesting that on my windows system `$date->getTimestamp()` returns false, while `$date->format('U')` gives the expected negative timestamp. It works fine on my linux box though and [here](http://3v4l.org/EKp1a). Strange – vascowhite Sep 29 '13 at 07:33
Your test is calling `createFromFormat()` in a non-static way. – vascowhite Sep 29 '13 at 07:36

vascowhite · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-29T07:39:15.757

Your date is a valid date, however your code is incorrect in that DateTime::createFromFormat() is a static function as is getLastErrors(). Your example code should be:-

$date_test = '13-10-31';
$date = \DateTime::createFromFormat('Y-m-d', $date_test);
$date_errors = \DateTime::getLastErrors();
print_r($date_errors);

However, there will still be no errors as the 31st October 13 (13-10-31) is a valid date. When you provide '13' as the year, DateTime casts it to an integer, 13, therefore, it is a valid year.

If you want to discard double digit years as invalid, then you will have to write your own validation functions.

I would recommend a thorough read of the PHP Date and Time extensions documentation

@lauthiamkok Of course it doesn't! As I clearly stated in my answer 13-10-31 __is a valid date__. — vascowhite, Sep 29 '13 at 07:18

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 29 '13 at 07:16

0

this is not because of the date inputted but by the incorrect defination of Year parameter.

answered Sep 29 '13 at 07:16

Sunil Verma

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Please check here for complete date formats http://php.net/manual/en/function.date.php – Sunil Verma Sep 29 '13 at 07:22
Did you expect years to be of leading zero for less than 4digits? @lauthiamkok – Lenin Sep 29 '13 at 07:24
i was commenting about your second edit. i.e $datetime->createFromFormat('YY-m-d', $date_test); I will get an error no matter what I input. For instance, in case you thought it otherwise. – Sunil Verma Sep 29 '13 at 07:27

php DateTime object does not give me errors for an invalid date input?

3 Answers3