View Helpers

DateFormat

The DateFormat view helper can be used to simplify rendering of localized date/time values. It acts as a wrapper for the IntlDateFormatter class within PHP's internationalization extension (ext/intl).

Basic Usage

The value for the date must be:

• an object which implements the DateTimeInterface,
• an IntlCalendar object,
• an integer representing a Unix timestamp value
• or an array in the format returned by localtime() function

Example with a DateTime instance:

echo $this->dateFormat(new DateTime()); // '20190222 09:07 PM'

Example with an IntlCalendar instance:

echo $this->dateFormat(IntlCalendar::createInstance()); // '20190222 09:07 PM'

Example with an Unix timestamp:

echo $this->dateFormat(1550870660); // '20190222 04:24 PM'

Example with the format of localtime():

echo $this->dateFormat([
    'tm_sec'  => 0,   // seconds, 0 to 59
    'tm_min'  => 30,  // minutes, 0 to 59
    'tm_hour' => 12,  // hours, 0 to 23
    'tm_mday' => 5,   // day of the month, 1 to 31
    'tm_mon'  => 4,   // month of the year, 0 (Jan) to 11 (Dec)
    'tm_year' => 119, // years since 1900
]); // '20190505 12:30 PM'

By default, if no locale is provided, DateFormat will use the system locale provided by PHP's Locale class and the getDefault() method.

(The above example assumes that the environment locale is set to en_US.)

More Examples

Format date and time:

echo $this->dateFormat(
    new DateTime(),
    IntlDateFormatter::MEDIUM, // Date
    IntlDateFormatter::MEDIUM  // Time
); // 'Feb 22, 2019, 9:07:38 PM'

Format only a date:

echo $this->dateFormat(
    new DateTime(),
    IntlDateFormatter::LONG, // Date
    IntlDateFormatter::NONE  // Time
); // 'Feb 22, 2019'

Format only a time:

echo $this->dateFormat(
    new DateTime(),
    IntlDateFormatter::NONE, // Date
    IntlDateFormatter::SHORT // Time
); // '9:07 PM'

(The above examples assumes that the environment locale is set to en_US.)

Using Date Type

Sets date type to use (none, short, medium, long, full).

echo $this->dateFormat(new DateTime(), IntlDateFormatter::MEDIUM); // 'Feb 22, 2019'

(The above example assumes that the environment locale is set to en_US.)

Possible values for the date type option are the following constants of PHP's IntlDateFormatter class:

• IntlDateFormatter::NONE - Do not include this element
• IntlDateFormatter::FULL - Fullstyle (Tuesday, April 12, 1952 AD)
• IntlDateFormatter::LONG - Long style (January 12, 1952)
• IntlDateFormatter::MEDIUM - Medium style (Jan 12, 1952)
• IntlDateFormatter::SHORT - Short style (12/13/52)

Default Value

The default value of this option is IntlDateFormatter::NONE.

Using Time Type

Sets time type to use (none, short, medium, long, full).

echo $this->dateFormat(new DateTime(), IntlDateFormatter::NONE, IntlDateFormatter::MEDIUM);
// '9:41:58 PM'

(The above example assumes that the environment locale is set to en_US.)

Possible values for the date type option are the following constants of PHP's IntlDateFormatter class:

• IntlDateFormatter::NONE - Do not include this element
• IntlDateFormatter::FULL - Fullstyle (3:30:42pm PST)
• IntlDateFormatter::LONG - Long style (3:30:32pm)
• IntlDateFormatter::MEDIUM - Medium style (3:30:32pm)
• IntlDateFormatter::SHORT - Short style (3:30pm)

Default Value

The default value of this option is IntlDateFormatter::NONE.

Using Locale

echo $this->dateFormat(new DateTime(), null, null, 'de_DE');
// 'Freitag, 22. Februar 2019 um 21:16:37 GMT'

$this->plugin('dateFormat')->setLocale('de_DE');

echo $this->dateFormat(new DateTime()); // 'Freitag, 22. Februar 2019 um 21:16:37 GMT'

Locale::setDefault('de_DE');

echo $this->dateFormat(new DateTime()); // 'Freitag, 22. Februar 2019 um 21:16:37 GMT'

Get current Value

To get the current value of this option, use the getLocale() method.

$this->plugin('dateFormat')->setLocale('en_US');

echo $this->plugin('dateFormat')->getLocale(); // 'en_US'

Default Value

By default, if no locale is provided, DateFormat will use the system locale provided by PHP's Locale::getDefault().

Using Timezone

By default, the system's default timezone will be used when formatting. This overrides any timezone that may be set inside a DateTime object. To change the timezone when formatting, use the setTimezone() method.

$this->plugin('dateFormat')->setTimezone('America/New_York');

echo $this->dateFormat(new DateTime(), null, null, 'en_US');
// 'Friday, February 22, 2019 at 4:20:21 PM Eastern Standard Time'

Get current Value

To get the current value of this option, use the getTimezone() method.

$this->plugin('dateFormat')->setTimezone('America/New_York');

echo $this->plugin('dateFormat')->getTimezone(); // 'America/New_York'

Default Value

By default, if no timezone is provided, DateFormat will use the system timezone provided by PHP's date_default_timezone_get().