UNIX_TIMESTAMP Function MySQL

Question

Any idea why this wont work? I have a feeling its the row name I have given it. It doesnt echo anything

$result = mysql_query("SELECT UNIX_TIMESTAMP(datetime) FROM voters WHERE ip='$ip'") or die(mysql_error());

while($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
   $unixtimestamp = $row['UNIX_TIMESTAMP(datetime)'];
   echo $unixtimestamp;
}

Answer 1

Nevermind, datetime is not a reserved word, but I still highly recommend not using it and choosing a better column name. :), but the below still stands.

Alias the column, makes pulling it out in the array easier later on:

$result = mysql_query("SELECT UNIX_TIMESTAMP(`datetime`) as voted_on FROM voters WHERE ip='$ip'") or die(mysql_error());

while($row = mysql_fetch_array($result)) {
    $unixtimestamp = $row['voted_on'];
    echo $unixtimestamp;
}

Should work.

Answer 2

First, I'd recommend against using datetime as a column name in mysql.

If I had a DATETIME field called vote_time, I'd do it like this:

SELECT UNIX_TIMESTAMP(vote_time) AS unix_vote_time FROM voters WHERE ip='$ip'

Then you'd access it via

$unixtimestamp = $row['unix_vote_time'];