Updated April 20, 2023
Introduction to PHP timezone
PHP timezone function is an inbuild function of PHP which is mostly used for setting up some default values with timezone that will be further used by all the functions related to date or time. There are some special characteristics about PHP timezone like the script in PHP timezone will return false in case timezone is not valid and it comes out to be true other way round. This function accepts single argument which is considered a mandatory argument and arguments more than one like multi-function argument is not a must for making PHP timezone working.
Syntax
bool date_default_timezone_set( $timezone_id )The syntax flow is in way where the bool signifies the boolean value and the function passes some parameters like:
- It is a must that this function will include single parameter like timezone_id which will be responsible for setting up the parameter with the required date or time inclined with UTC timings of ASIA or KOLKATA.
- In case the function returns value as false then that timezone id will be invalid to consider and true otherwise.
How timezone Function works in PHP?
Every function has a working pattern so do timezone function in PHP which functions in the following way:
- timezone function is an inbuild function in PHP which is mostly used for setting the values with respect to the values given but still it needs some more setting and the patterns as per requirement.
- Also, there are other methods with timezone including setting up the PHP timezone function with setTimeZone and getTimeZone.
- Version compatibility in PHP also plays a pivotal role like it should be above 5 with its own pros and cons.
- Date_timezone_set function is used exclusively for setting the timezone with Date Time Object which means it sets for the new DateTimeObject.
- DateTime::setData function as part of Timezone function resets the current DateTime Object to a different date and time.
- This timezone function involves usage of both date and time which means that the date used will be fetched from the date
- Once this date or time function set up is done then the format for both the date and time function can be modified and can be made updated in different ways and format.
- Also, the function depends on many local setups of the server with the daylight-saving time and leap years into consideration.
- For setting up local server and the environment it is very much needed to make this PHP function as part of PHP pre-installation phase which means no third-party installation is required for making use of PHP functions.
- This behavior of functions gets affected or changed whenever the function with php.ini is used for manipulation with the added aid of timezone.
- timezone_abbreviations_list() function is mostly used for returning an associative array containing destination, offset, and any timezone name.
- This function is used for accepting a single parameter for manipulation which involves timezone_identifier to make traversal within the function.
- The return type is in boolean format with consideration of fact that it can be either true or false depending on the function requirement.
- After PHP Version more than 5 which means PHP version with 5 and above will have calls made to date and time by generating E_NOTICE which is a kind of acknowledgement with the fact that the user is receiving a valid or true notice as a message.
- If in case the end user receives or get some invalidated or false response as E_Warning then the system settings with the TZ environment variable will receive acknowledgment in warning format.
- This is not the only option to make PHP timezone in working format rather an alternative to this procedure can be made with the INI default settings with time zone i.e. by setting the date time with date.timezone to set default timezone.
- The timezone identifier plays an important role with the fact that timezone related to identifiers will be according to the locations and it can be in the form of UTC timing like Africa, Asia, Europe etc.
- Versions with 5.1.2 supports for the function having validation for the timezoneID parameter whereas the version 5.3.0 supports for acknowledgement with E_Warning rather than E_strict statements.
- Date_default_timezone_get() helps in getting the default timezone that will be aided with the date and time format present in the script.
Examples of PHP timezone
Given below are the examples of PHP timezone:
Example #1
This program demonstrates the way to represent default timezone to get the value set up with the default timezone according to India and USA as shown in the output.
Code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<?php
date_default_timezone_set('India/USA');
$sc_tz = date_default_timezone_get();
if (strcmp($sc_tz, ini_get('date.timezone')))
{
echo 'ini_timezone varies from the ini_timezone present in the script.';
}
else
{
echo 'Both the timezone including ini and script matches with each other.';
}
?>
</body>
</html>Output:
Example #2
This program demonstrates how to call for the date and time function with respect to set the date and time in an object-oriented fashion as shown in the output.
Code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<?php
$dt = new DateTime('2020-08-05', new DateTimeZone('Europe/London'));
echo $dt->format('Y-m-d H:i:sP') . "\n";
$dt->setTimezone(new DateTimeZone('Australia/sydney'));
echo $dt->format('Y-m-d H:i:sP') . "\n";
?>
</body>
</html>Output:
Example #3
This program demonstrates the creation of date using date_create() function from abbreviation list to make the entire list of function working with the created date as shown in the output.
Code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<?php
$dt=date_create();
echo date_timestamp_get($dt);
?>
</body>
</html>Output:
Example #4
This program demonstrates the date with timestamp to get created and then representing it as shown in the output.
Code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<?php
$dt=date_create();
date_timestamp_set($dt,12167845);
echo date_format($dt,"U = Y-m-d H:i:s");
?>
</body>
</html>Output:
Conclusion
PHP timezone function is a very useful inbuild function related to time and date which is primarily used whenever the use requires to implement the functionality related to date and time. Also, the PHP timezone blends well once timezone is confirmed for affirmation and reflection in terms of setting and getting the time uniformly.
Recommended Articles
This is a guide to PHP timezone. Here we discuss the introduction to PHP timezone, how timezone function works along with respective examples. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –
