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Human Readable Time Difference With PHP

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1300235433

Human Readable Time Difference With PHP

Most social networks provide a historical timestamp to read as a human-readable string - such as 1 day ago, 3 weeks ago, 1 year, 5 months, and so on. The same application applies to future events or posts. The purpose of the string is to provide a general frame of time-reference and thus negating the need for any mental acrobatics. WordPress provides a default function called human_time_diff() that accomplishes this from within WordPress. It's this function we've slightly modified for use in other PHP applications (outside of WP).

PHP Code

1
<?php 
2
/*
3
 Retrieve the plural or single form based on the supplied amount.
4
 @param string $single The text that will be used if $number is 1.
5
  @param string $plural The text that will be used if $number is not 1.
6
 @param int    $number The number to compare against to use either $single or $plural.
7
 @return string Either $single or $plural translated text.
8
 https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/4.7.3/src/wp-includes/l10n.php#L361
9
*/
10
 
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function _n($single, $plural, $number) {
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  return 1 === $number ? $single : $plural;
13
}
14
 
15
/*
16
 
17
 Determines the difference between two timestamps.
18
 Static Day Countdown with WordPress Shortcode or PHP
19
 http://www.beliefmedia.com/static-countdown
20
 https://core.trac.wordpress.org/browser/tags/4.8/src/wp-includes/formatting.php#L3216
21
*/
22
 
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function beliefmedia_human_time_diff($from, $to = '', $text = false) {
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    if (empty($to)) $to = time();
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    $diff = (int) abs($to - $from);
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    if ($diff < 3600) {
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      $mins = round($diff / 60);
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      if ($mins <= 1)
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        $mins = 1;
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      /* translators: min=minute */
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      $since = sprintf(_n('%s min', '%s mins', $mins), $mins);
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    }
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    elseif ($diff < 86400 && $diff >= 3600) {
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      $hours = round($diff / 3600);
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      if ($hours <= 1)
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        $hours = 1;
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      $since = sprintf(_n('%s hour', '%s hours', $hours), $hours);
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    }
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    elseif ($diff < 604800 && $diff >= 86400) {
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      $days = round($diff / 86400);
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      if ($days <= 1)
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        $days = 1;
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      $since = sprintf(_n('%s day', '%s days', $days), $days);
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    }
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    elseif ($diff < 30 * 86400 && $diff >= 604800) {
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      $weeks = round($diff / 604800);
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      if ($weeks <= 1)
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        $weeks = 1;
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      $since = sprintf(_n('%s week', '%s weeks', $weeks), $weeks);
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    }
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    elseif ($diff < 31536000 && $diff >= 30 * 86400) {
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      $months = round($diff / (30 * 86400));
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      if ($months <= 1)
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        $months = 1;
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      $since = sprintf(_n('%s month', '%s months', $months), $months);
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    }
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    elseif ($diff >= 31536000) {
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      $years = round($diff / 31536000);
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      if ($years <= 1)
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        $years = 1;
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      $since = sprintf(_n('%s year', '%s years', $years), $years);
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    }
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 return ($to - $from > 0) ? $since : $since = ($text !== false) ? $since. ' ago' : $since;
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}

Examples

1
<?php 
2
/* Usage */
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$from = '1497911060'; $to = '117849600';
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echo beliefmedia_human_time_diff($from, $to, $text = true);

Returns: 44 years ago.

1
<?php 
2
/* Usage */
3
$from = '1497911060'; $to = '1514721599'; /* NYE 2017 */
4
echo beliefmedia_human_time_diff($from, $to, $text = true);

Returns: 6 months.

Considerations

  • The argument of $text determines if the ago text is returned.
  • You may find other variations of this function on our PHP Snippets page.
  • See also: Static Day Countdown with WordPress Shortcode or PHP.
  • See also: Display Time To Published or Scheduled Posts (WP Snippet).
  • The _n function is one to essentially nullify the WP translation object.

Download


Title: Human Readable Time Difference With PHP
Description: Human Readable Time Difference With PHP. A modified version of WP's human_time_diff function.
  Download • Version 0.2, 1.1K, zip, Category: PHP Code & Snippets

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Martin Khoury

Martin Khoury

Martin is the Managing Director of BeliefMedia Pty Limited, and Australia's leading Finance Marketing Specialist. He is supported by a team of Australia's finest. Read more about Marty here.

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The comparison rate is calculated on a secured loan of $150,000 with a term of 25 years with monthly principal and interest payments. WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Important Information: Applications are subject to credit approval. Full terms and conditions will be included in our loan offer. Fees and charges are payable. Interest rates are subject to change. Offer does not apply to internal refinances and is not transferable between loans. As this advice has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs, you should consider its appropriateness to your circumstances before acting on the advice.
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