preg_match mysql datetime

[mexicoshanty]

Hi there,

I'm having trouble trying to determine if a string is in the format of the mysql column type; datetime. The mysql datetime is in the format of:
year-month-day hour:minute:seconds

preg_match patterns are voodoo, too me anyway. Is there any experienced voodooists out there that can help me?

Thanks Coen

[mexicoshanty]

ok i think i solved it.
preg_match('#([0-9]{4})-([0-9]{2})-([0-9]{2}) ([0-9]{2}):([0-9]{2}):([0-9]{2})#', $value)

if anyone can see an error in there, please reply

[edited by: jatar_k at 3:22 pm (utc) on Oct. 4, 2005]
[edit reason] disabled smilies [/edit]

[coopster]

You may want to assert a start (^) and end ($) of subject. Also, make sure the $value doesn't have any spaces surrounding it by trimming any off first:

$value = trim [php.net]($value); 
if (preg_match("/^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2} [0-2][0-3]:[0-5][0-9]:[0-5][0-9]$/", $value)) { 
 print "it's a match"; 
}

Lastly, just because the digits are there does not make it a valid date. You may want to actually validate the date portion of the $value before inserting the value into your database if that is indeed what you are doing here.

[mexicoshanty]

Thanks coopster, i like your way better :)