This script shows, by example, how to convert from a UNIX Timestamp (the returned data type from the PHP time() or mktime() functions) into a string that can be stored in MySql's DATETIME or TIMESTAMP fields. It also shows how to convert back into a UNIX Timestamp. The times are stored in the database as GMT/UTC times, so finally, it shows how to convert from the resulting UNIX timestamp into a string that represents the time with a given GMT/UTC offset.
Convert that UNIX Timestamp into a string, safe for MySql. The string will be in the format CCYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS and will represent the GMT/UTC time represented by the UNIX Timestamp. Example: 2006-02-10 20:33:55
Parse the String and store the result in a new UNIX Timestamp. Because strtotime() thinks that any string passed to it, that does not specify a timezone, is in the local timezone, according to the settings in your configuration, we append " GMT" to the string that is returned from MySql. This creates a new string that is both compliant with strtotime() and explicitly a GMT value.
Show the two values, in W3C format, for debugging. W3C format dates include the full date, time and timezone information. If we visually or programmatically compare the two values, they should be identical in all aspects.
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