How to convert Datetime to Unix timestamp in PHP

🎈 🎈 🎈


    $timestamp = strtotime('2020-04-15 08:30:45');
    echo "Unix Timestamp: " . $timestamp;

Output:

Unix Timestamp: 1042364180

Example only. There may be multiple ways to perform this operation.

Code Explanation

This PHP uses the strtotime() function to parse a human-readable date string and convert it directly into a Unix timestamp<> By using strtotime() the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC is returned, effectively converting the provided date into a Unix timestamp.

Convert Unix timestamp to Date in PHP

Other useful PHP date functions

Function	Description	Example
`date()`	Formats a local date and time based on a given format string.	`date('Y-m-d H:i:s')` returns 2024-08-28 12:34:56
`time()`	Returns the current Unix timestamp (number of seconds since January 1, 1970).	`time()` returns 1693227296
`strtotime()`	Parses an English textual datetime description into a Unix timestamp.	`strtotime('2024-08-28 12:34:56')` returns 1693227296
`mktime()`	Returns the Unix timestamp for a date with specific time components (hour, minute, second, month, day, year).	`mktime(12, 34, 56, 8, 28, 2024)` returns 1693227296
`getdate()`	Returns an associative array with information about the current date/time or a given timestamp.	`getdate(1693227296)` returns array with date components
`gmdate()`	Formats a GMT/UTC date and time based on a given format string.	`gmdate('Y-m-d H:i:s', 1693227296)` returns 2024-08-28 12:34:56
`DateTime::createFromFormat()`	Creates a new DateTime object from a specified format.	`DateTime::createFromFormat('Y-m-d', '2024-08-28')` returns DateTime object
`DateTime::format()`	Formats a DateTime object according to a given format string.	`$datetime->format('Y-m-d H:i:s')` returns 2024-08-28 12:34:56
`DateTime::getTimestamp()`	Returns the Unix timestamp of a DateTime object.	`$datetime->getTimestamp()` returns 1693227296
`DateTime::setTimestamp()`	Sets the date and time based on a Unix timestamp.	`$datetime->setTimestamp(1693227296)` sets the date/time to 2024-08-28 12:34:56

Current Unix Timestamp SECONDS SINCE JAN 01 1970

Current UTC Time

2025-08-20