How to Convert a Timestamp to a “Time Ago” Format in PHP

When displaying dates and times on websites, it’s often more user-friendly to show a relative time, such as “5 minutes ago” or “2 days ago,” rather than a specific timestamp like “2024-08-01 14:00:00”. This format gives users a better sense of how recent an event was. PHP makes it easy to Convert a Timestamp to a “Time Ago” format with a custom function.

Why Convert a Timestamp to a “Time Ago” Format?

• User Experience: It’s easier for users to understand “2 hours ago” compared to “2024-08-01 14:00:00”.
• Relevance: “Time ago” format keeps content looking fresh and current.
• Engagement: Users are more likely to engage with content that appears recent.

Suggested Read: How to generate dynamic QR code using PHP

Converting a Timestamp to a “Time Ago” Function in PHP

Let’s start by creating a PHP function that takes a timestamp as an input and returns a string representing the “time ago” format.

Step 1: Calculate the Time Difference

First, we need to find the difference between the current time and the timestamp provided.

• 'time() returns the current Unix timestamp.
• Subtracting the provided timestamp from the current time gives the difference in seconds.

Step 2: Define Time Units

Next, we define the various time units (seconds, minutes, hours, days, etc.) and how many seconds are in each unit.

$timeUnits = [ 31536000 => 'year', 2592000 => 'month', 604800 => 'week', 86400 => 'day', 3600 => 'hour', 60 => 'minute', 1 => 'second' ];

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$timeUnits = [     31536000 => 'year',     2592000  => 'month',     604800   => 'week',     86400    => 'day',     3600     => 'hour',     60       => 'minute',     1        => 'second' ];

• Each key represents the number of seconds in a given unit.
• The corresponding value is the name of the time unit.

Step 3: Calculate the Largest Unit

We loop through each time unit to find the largest one that fits within the time difference.

foreach ($timeUnits as $unitSeconds => $unitName) { if ($timeAgo >= $unitSeconds) { $unitValue = floor($timeAgo / $unitSeconds); return $unitValue . ' ' . $unitName . ($unitValue > 1 ? 's' : '') . ' ago'; } }

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foreach ($timeUnits as $unitSeconds => $unitName) {     if ($timeAgo >= $unitSeconds) {         $unitValue = floor($timeAgo / $unitSeconds);         return $unitValue . ' ' . $unitName . ($unitValue > 1 ? 's' : '') . ' ago';     } }

• floor($timeAgo / $unitSeconds)` calculates how many full units fit into the time difference.
• If the result is greater than or equal to 1, we return that value along with the appropriate time unit name.
• If the unit value is greater than 1, we pluralize the unit name (e.g., “2 days ago”).

Complete Function Code

Here’s the complete function that you can use in your PHP projects:

How to Use the Function

Using the timeAgo function is simple. Just pass in a Unix timestamp, and it will return the “time ago” string.

Example Usage

Output Examples:

• If the timestamp was 5 minutes ago, it would return "5 minutes ago".
• If it was 2 days ago, it would return "2 days ago".
• If it was just seconds ago, it would return "just now".

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

While this function covers most cases, here are a couple of things to think about:

• Future Timestamps: Right now, if you pass a future timestamp, it returns “just now.” You might want to add a check to handle future dates differently.
• Localization: If your site supports multiple languages, you might want to translate the time units.

Do you want to get implementation help, or modify or extend the functionality of this script? Submit a paid service request

Conclusion

Converting a timestamp to a “time ago” format in PHP is a simple yet powerful way to improve the user experience on your website. With just a bit of code, you can make your content more relatable and engaging for your users.

Feel free to use and modify this function to suit your needs. It’s a handy tool that can make your site feel a lot more dynamic!

Also Read: Convert a Timestamp to a “Time Ago” Format

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