Working with dates and MySQL database

[mrgrammar]

I have a MySQL database with a member table. When a prospective member applies, I need to insert the application date automatically. I then need to be able to sort by the date later. Therefore, it needs to be either numeric or date datatype.

1. Which datatype is best to use?

2. How do I capture the date and insert it into the table? (I know about using the date() and time() functions, but I do not know how they work in terms of putting the data in the correct format for insertion into a MySQL table.)

3. Later, will it automatically sort ascending and descending or is there something that I will need to do with it?

Brian

[Tim_L]

1. Use MYSQL timestamp to automatically insert the current date.

2. To display your date:

<?php echo date('F d - Y',strtotime($datefield)); ?>