How can I work out if a date is on or before today?

Question

My web application consists of library type system where books have due dates.

I have the current date displayed on my page, simply by using this:

date_default_timezone_set('Europe/London');

$date = date;
print $date("d/m/Y");

I have set 'date' as a variable because I'm not sure if it makes a difference when I use it in the IF statement you're about see, on my library books page.

On this page, I am simply outputting the due dates of the books, many have dates which have not yet reached todays date, and others which have dates greater than todays date. Basically, all I want is the due date to appear bold (or strong), if it has passed todays date (the system displayed date). This is what I have and thought would work:

<?
if ($duedate < $date) {
  echo '<td><strong>';
} else {
  echo '<td>';
} ?>

<?php echo $date('d/m/Y', $timestamp);?></strong></td>

I have declared $timestamp as a var which converts the date of default MySQL format to a UK version. Can anyone help me out? I thought this would've been very straight forward!

Answer 1

try:

if (strtotime($duedate) < time()) {
    // oooh, your book is late!
}