processing date data type in mysql with php

Sul

I'm extracting a date from my mysql database - which is in the "DATE" format, i.e. yyyy-mm-dd.

I want it so that it is stored in a variable as a processed string - i.e. in the format: $date = yyyymmdd, without the "-" characters.

I've got an idea of how to do this, but I'm not sure if it's the best way. I thought of doing it by having three variables - $year, $month and $day. And then store the relevant info in each variable using the Substr() function. Then I can concatenate the var into one var. Is this a good way? Is there an easier way?

cosminb

you can either use :

$date = str_replace('-', '', $date);

or use strtotime() to convert $date into a UNIX timestamp and then process it with date()

AstroTeg

Depending on what you wish to do, it tends to be a lot easier for everything involved if the date conversion takes place via MySQL.

SELECT DATE_FORMAT(mydate, '%Y%m%d') AS newDate FROM mytable

Then newDate would contain the date in the format you'd like it in and you wouldn't have to have PHP do any work.