Strange/incorrect output from php date (formatting) function

Question

I'm having an issue trying to convert a Unix time (taken from an XML file generated by an SVN Info command) into to a formatted date/time.

The $svnInfoTime is correct, and the generated $unixTime reflects this, though the $formattedDate seems to be slightly out.

I've seen this occur in a number of (but not all) cases. An example:

<?php 
    $svnInfoTime = "2013-03-06T15:42:00.894378Z";
    $unixTime = strtotime($svnInfoTime);
    $formattedDate = date('d F, Y, h:i A', $unixTime);

    echo "SVN info time : " . $svnInfoTime . "<br>";
    echo "unix time     : " . $unixTime . "<br>";
    echo "formatted date: " . $formattedDate . "<br>";
>

outputs:

SVN info time : 2013-03-06T15:42:00.894378Z
unix time : 1362584520
formatted date: 06 March, 2013, 04:42 PM

Why is the formatted date displaying 4:42 pm, when the Unix time is 3:42 pm??

Can anyone tell me where I'm going wrong?

Another workaround is to set default time zone: date_default_timezone_set('UTC');. — Leri
– Leri, Commented Mar 7, 2013 at 10:17
You forgot to define "time" adequately precisely, is the problem. — Lightness Races in Orbit
– Lightness Races in Orbit, Commented Mar 7, 2013 at 10:29

hjpotter92 · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-07 10:25:31Z

3

The PHP's date() function takes your timezone settings into account when outputting/formatting dates.

Check which timezone you are located in, or pass your custom timezone settings to the date function to get output as 3:42 PM.

P.S. It works fine on codepad.viper-7.com

EDIT

On passing a different timezone(Asia/Kolkata) before the date() call, results in the output 9:12 PM.

$svnInfoTime = "2013-03-06T15:42:00.894378Z";
$unixTime = strtotime($svnInfoTime);
date_default_timezone_set('Asia/Kolkata');
$formattedDate = date('d F, Y, h:i A', $unixTime);
echo "SVN info time : " . $svnInfoTime . "<br>";
echo "unix time     : " . $unixTime . "<br>";
echo "formatted date: " . $formattedDate . "<br>";

gives:

SVN info time : 2013-03-06T15:42:00.894378Z
unix time : 1362584520
formatted date: 06 March, 2013, 09:12 PM

edited Mar 7, 2013 at 10:25

answered Mar 7, 2013 at 10:15

hjpotter92

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1 Comment

Jonny Over a year ago

Thanks, fixed issue by using date_default_timezone_set('GMT'); before calling the date function.

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