False dateresult using date() php

Question

I want to parse the date 1938 1938+02:00 using date() & strtotime().

My code:

echo date("Y", strtotime("1938+02:00"));

gives me as result "2014"..

What am i doing wrong?

What is `1938+02:00` anyway? 2am january 1st 1938? – I wrestled a bear once. Oct 31 '14 at 14:40 — I wrestled a bear once., Oct 31 '14 at 14:40

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 31 '14 at 14:36

5

For something like this just get the first four characters of the string. No need to work with dates and such:

echo substr('1938+02:00', 0, 4);

But if you insist on using date functionality you'll need to use DateTime::createFromFormat() as that date string is not a standard format.

$date = DateTime::createFromFormat('YP', '1938+02:00');
echo $date->format('Y');

answered Oct 31 '14 at 14:36

John Conde

op wants to use date() & strtotime(),I didn't downvote – Shub Oct 31 '14 at 14:39
actually my first thought is to escape that plus sign lol. there is a correct format after all. +1 – Kevin Oct 31 '14 at 14:47
*"Downvoter care to explain?"* - Exactly. Well, I compensated for it. – Funk Forty Niner Oct 31 '14 at 18:07
@Fred-ii- Thank you, sir. It was a quick downvote which makes me question their real intention. – John Conde Oct 31 '14 at 18:08
You're welcome John. You are by far a person who has mastered the concept of time. Just don't be late for a date ;) *Cheers* – Funk Forty Niner Oct 31 '14 at 18:10
@Fred-ii- I only hope to be late for my own funeral ;) – John Conde Oct 31 '14 at 18:14

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 31 '14 at 14:37

0

date("Y"); only return the year. That's what the Y does.

See the Manual page for date for other options.

EDIT

Another thing to consider, is that timestamps only go back to 1970. That's what a timestamp is (the number of seconds since 1970).

So, that's going to give you a negative value for the timestamp.

answered Oct 31 '14 at 14:37

I want only the Year. – R2D2 Oct 31 '14 at 14:39
Then what's the problem? – I wrestled a bear once. Oct 31 '14 at 14:40
it returns 2014 not 1938? – R2D2 Oct 31 '14 at 14:41
@Elias35 ah, just noticed, see my updae. – I wrestled a bear once. Oct 31 '14 at 14:42
by the way i can't change the dateformat because i take this information from a api. – R2D2 Oct 31 '14 at 14:42

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 31 '14 at 14:38

-1

Your date string is not in an acceptable format. here is a list of acceptable formats for strtotime

answered Oct 31 '14 at 14:38

Jared Smith

1

This is correct, but you should also show how to work with that date format. Otherwise this answer isn't very helpful. – John Conde Oct 31 '14 at 14:42

3 Answers3