How to Output 24-Hour and 12-Hour Time Formats Using the strftime Function? A Detailed Explanation of Their Differences

gitbox 2025-09-08

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echo <span><span class="hljs-string">"<p>In PHP, handling dates and times is a very common operation. The <code>strftime()

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3. Key Differences Between 24-Hour and 12-Hour Formats

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Hour range: 24-hour format runs from 0 to 23, while 12-hour format runs from 1 to 12 and requires AM/PM to distinguish morning and afternoon.

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Representation style: 24-hour format is more straightforward, without needing to check AM or PM; the 12-hour format aligns more with everyday conversational usage.

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Programming scenarios: 24-hour format is commonly used in system logs and scheduling for precise time recording; 12-hour format is often used in user interfaces for non-technical audiences.

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4. Summary

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When using strftime(), choose %H for 24-hour format or %I %p for 12-hour format according to your needs. Understanding their differences helps correctly display time in different scenarios.

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strftime