php strtotime return 1970-01-01

Question

<?php
$a = 'MAY 05, 2001  00:54:00 AM';

echo date('Y-m-d',strtotime($a)).'<br />';

$b = 'MAY 05, 2001  05:54:00 AM';

echo date('Y-m-d',strtotime($b)).'<br />';

//MAY 05, 2001  00:54:00 AM return 1970-01-01
//MAY 05, 2001  05:54:00 AM return 2001-05-05

?>

Answer 1

The AM implies you are using a 12-hour clock . However, there is no "zero hour" in this clock system, so your first time example of 00:54:00 AM is not a valid time (12-hour clock runs from one to twelve, then flips back to one with am/pm switched). Perhaps you meant just 00:54:00 (24-hour clock) or 12:54:00 AM/PM (which would be six minutes before one o'clock).

Answer 2

You have passed AM in 24 hour time format.I have corrected it

$a = 'MAY 05, 2001 00:54:00';

echo date('Y-m-d',strtotime($a)).'<br />';

$b = 'MAY 05, 2001  05:54:00 AM';

echo date('Y-m-d',strtotime($b)).'<br />';

Answer 3

if you're using a PHP version later than 5.3.0 you can use

http://www.php.net/manual/tr/function.date-parse-from-format.php

like

$a = 'MAY 05, 2001 00:54:00';

echo date('Y-m-d',date_parse_from_format("F d, Y H:i:s",$a)).'<br />';