getTimestamp to get Unix timestamp from date object in PHP

Get a Unix timestamp from a date object

getTimestamp() returns the Unix timestamp represented by a DateTime or DateTimeImmutable object.

$date = new DateTimeImmutable('2026-09-14 12:00:00', new DateTimeZone('UTC'));
echo $date->getTimestamp();

The timestamp is timezone-independent; changing the object's timezone changes its formatted clock representation, not the represented instant.

getTimestamp ($unixtimestamp);

date_timestamp_set ($date_obj,$unixtimestamp);

Gets the Unix timestamp of the date.

Parameter	DESCRIPTION
$date_obj	Required : Input date object to be assigned new value.
$unixtimestamp	Required: Integer , Timestamp of new date and time

mktime() function to generate timestamp
Generate timestamp using date and time

Object Oriented style

Current timestamp

$date = new DateTime(); // current time object
echo "Timestamp: ".$date->getTimestamp()."<br>"; // getting Timestamp
echo $date->format('U = Y-m-d H:i:s');

Procedural style

Current timestamp

$date = date_create(); // current time object
echo "Timestamp: ".date_timestamp_get($date)."<br>"; // getting Timestamp
echo date_format($date, 'U = Y-m-d H:i:s');

Timestamp of any date and time ( Object Oriented Style )

$date = new DateTime('2016-08-25 22:15:40');
echo "Timestamp: ".$date->getTimestamp();// Output is Timestamp: 1472143540

Timestamp of any date and time ( Procedural Style )

$date = date_create('2019-12-28 22:15:40');
echo "Timestamp: ".date_timestamp_get($date); // Output is Timestamp: 1577551540

Other ways to get Unix Timestamp

Function	Description
mktime()	getting time stamp of input date and time
strtotime()	Text string of data to timestamp

PHP Date Functions setDate() : Set date for date object Timestamp in PHP Displaying calendar for selection of date by user

Subhendu Mohapatra

Author & Instructor at plus2net

I write and maintain practical tutorials on Python, PHP, SQL, JavaScript, HTML, jQuery, and web development at plus2net. The tutorials focus on clear explanations, working examples, and code that readers can test and adapt while learning.

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