How to Compare Dates in PHP When Days Lack Zero-Padding?

Comparing Dates in PHP: Handling Dates with Missing Zero Padding

In PHP, comparing dates can be challenging when the database stores dates without zero-padding for days below 10. To address this issue, several approaches can be employed:

Using strtotime and Comparing Integer Timestamps

If your dates always fall after January 1, 1970, you can utilize the strtotime function to convert both dates to integer timestamps. These timestamps can then be compared:

<?php
$today = date("Y-m-d");
$expire = $row->expireDate; // from the database

$today_time = strtotime($today);
$expire_time = strtotime($expire);

if ($expire_time < $today_time) {
    /* Do something */
}
?>

Leveraging the DateTime Class (PHP 5.2.0 )

For greater flexibility and support for more complex date formats, consider using the DateTime class:

<?php
$today_dt = new DateTime($today);
$expire_dt = new DateTime($expire);

if ($expire_dt < $today_dt) {
    /* Do something */
}
?>

Note:

Ensure that the date stored in the database is consistent with the expected format. In this case, the format is "Y-m-d" without zero-padding for days below 10.

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