PHP/MySQL timestamp and timezones

Question

If I grab the current timestamp using the NOW() function in MySQL can I grab that field via php and give that time in different time zones? Basically converting current time in the current timezone to another timezone?

Answer 1

You can use the DateTimeZone class:

$gmt = new DateTimeZone("GMT");
$datetimeInGMT = new DateTime($now, $gmt);

It also takes locations in the form continent/city, e.g. Europe/London.

If your datetime is non-UTC, you can use setTimezone:

$datetimeInGMT = new DateTime($now, new DateTimeZone("America/New_York"));
$datetimeInGMT->setTimezone(new DateTimeZone("GMT"));