Get Time of day, UTC offset, and DST

gettimeofday()

<?php
 //Syntax
 gettimeofday(bool $as_float = false): array|float

By default, an array is returned. If the parameter $as_float is set, then a float is returned. The array contains the following keys and values:

• sec – seconds since the Unix Epoch (see Generating a Timestamp)
• usec – microseconds (adds to the number of seconds), also see microtime() function.
• minuteswest – minutes west of Greenwich (UTC offset)
• dsttime – type of daylight saving time correction, the value 0 means the timezone is not on DST.

The following code was executed from my localhost on August 07, 2022, at 08:58:42 CET:

<?php
 # returns an array
 $time = gettimeofday();
 print_r( $time );
 /* [sec] => 1659855522
    [usec] => 175872
    [minuteswest] => -120
    [dsttime] => 1  */
 
 # returns a float value
 echo gettimeofday ( TRUE );
 # Prints: 1659855522.1759

Example: gettimeofday(true) vs. microtime(true)

Both gettimeofday(true) and microtime(true) functions return the same result if the optional parameter is provided:

<?php
 echo gettimeofday(true);
 # Prints: 1659930415.9927

 echo microtime(true);
 # Prints: 1659930415.9927

Example: time() function vs. gettimeofday[‘sec’]

The time() function and the sec element of the gettimeofday() function returns the current timestamp, see Generating a Timestamp tutorial.

<?php
 $gtod = gettimeofday();
 
 echo $gtod['sec'].'<br>';
 # Prints: 1659931318
 echo time(); 
 # Prints: 1659931318

You can use the date() and getdate() functions to convert a timestamp to date and time.

<?php
 $gtod = gettimeofday();
 $tstmp = $gtod['sec'];
 echo date ('d-M-Y H:i:s', $tstmp);
 # Prints: 08-Aug-2022 06:17:50

Example: Check if the current timezone is on DST

<?php
 $tz = date_default_timezone_get();
 $time = gettimeofday();
 
 if ($time['dsttime'] === 0)
  echo "The timezone '$tz' is not on DST.<br>";
 else
  echo "The timezone '$tz' is on DST.<br>";

 # Prints: The timezone 'Europe/Berlin' is on DST.

Example: Get UTC offset (hour)

<?php
 $tz = date_default_timezone_get();
 $time = gettimeofday();
 
 # Converting minutes to hours
 $offset = $time['minuteswest'] / 60;
 echo "The '$tz' timezone is $offset hour(s) west of UTC.";
 # The 'Europe/Berlin' timezone is -2 hour(s) west of UTC.

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The Date and Time Tutorials: