How do I mock the current time for testing with Carbon?

Use the `setTestNow()` method to freeze or set a specific time. For example, `Carbon::setTestNow(Carbon::create(2020, 1, 1))` makes all subsequent `Carbon::now()` calls return that date. Remember to call `Carbon::setTestNow()` without arguments to restore normal behavior after tests.

Carbon vs PHP DateTime: which one should I use?

Use Carbon if you need a fluent API, human-readable diffs, or multi-language support, as it extends DateTime with these features. Stick with native DateTime for simple date operations or when minimizing dependencies is a priority, as Carbon adds overhead and an external package.

How to format a date in a specific language with Carbon?

Call the `locale()` method on a Carbon instance to set the language, then use `isoFormat()` or `diffForHumans()`. For instance, `Carbon::parse('2023-01-01')->locale('fr_FR')->isoFormat('LLLL')` returns a French-formatted date string. Carbon supports over 200 languages for this.

What's the difference between Carbon and CarbonImmutable?

Carbon is mutable, meaning methods like `addDay()` modify the original instance. CarbonImmutable returns new instances for each modification, preventing accidental state changes. Use CarbonImmutable in applications where immutability is preferred for thread safety or predictable behavior.

How to handle timezones in Carbon?

Pass the timezone as a parameter when creating instances, like `Carbon::now('America/New_York')`. You can also convert between timezones using methods such as `setTimezone()`. Carbon seamlessly integrates with PHP's DateTimeZone for accurate handling.

Can I use Carbon without Composer?

Yes, you can download the latest release ZIP from GitHub and include the autoload.php file, as mentioned in the README. However, using Composer is recommended for dependency management and easier updates in most PHP projects.

Carbon — PHP DateTime API Extension

What is Carbon?

Carbon is a PHP library that extends the native DateTime class, providing a more expressive and intuitive API for working with dates and times. It simplifies common date manipulation tasks like adding days or comparing dates, and adds powerful features like human-readable diffs and multi-language support, making it essential for any PHP application dealing with time.

Target Audience

PHP developers building applications that require complex date and time handling, such as scheduling systems, content management platforms, or internationalized web services. It is particularly useful for developers who need to work with multiple time zones or provide localized date formats.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Carbon over native PHP DateTime because it offers a fluent, chainable interface that makes date manipulation more readable and less error-prone. Its unique selling point is extensive internationalization support for over 200 languages and built-in testing utilities like `setTestNow()` for mocking time in unit tests.

A simple PHP API extension for DateTime.

Use Cases

Best For

Building PHP applications that require human-readable date differences (e.g., '2 minutes ago') in multiple languages.
Developing internationalized web services where dates and times must be formatted according to regional preferences.
Writing unit tests that involve date and time logic, using its mocking capabilities to freeze or set specific times.
Simplifying complex date arithmetic and comparisons with a fluent, chainable API instead of verbose procedural code.
Extending PHP's native DateTime functionality while maintaining full compatibility with existing codebases.
Creating applications with time zone handling, such as scheduling systems for global teams or event platforms.

Not Ideal For

Performance-critical applications where native PHP DateTime operations are sufficient and overhead must be minimized.
Projects that enforce immutable data patterns, as Carbon's default instances are mutable and can lead to accidental state changes.
Systems with stringent dependency policies that prefer to avoid external libraries for core language features like date handling.
Simple scripts or one-off tasks where the complexity of a full library isn't justified compared to basic DateTime usage.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Expressive Fluent API

Offers a chainable interface for date manipulation, making code more readable compared to procedural DateTime methods, as shown in README examples like `Carbon::now()->addDay()->subWeek()`.

Extensive Internationalization

Supports over 200 languages and 500 regional variants for human-readable diffs and localized formatting, enabling easy multi-language applications without custom logic.

Seamless DateTime Integration

Extends PHP's native DateTime class, ensuring full compatibility with existing codebases and allowing drop-in replacement without breaking changes.

Built-in Testing Utilities

Includes methods like `setTestNow()` to mock the current time, facilitating reliable unit testing of time-dependent logic, as demonstrated in the README for freezing dates.

Cons

Mutable by Default

Inherits mutability from PHP's DateTime, which can lead to accidental state changes and bugs in applications that assume immutability, especially in concurrent or functional programming contexts.

Performance Overhead

Adds a layer of abstraction over native DateTime, which may introduce slight performance penalties in high-throughput scenarios where raw speed is crucial, such as processing large datasets.

External Dependency

Requires Composer or manual installation, adding an external package for functionality that PHP natively provides, which might be undesirable for minimalistic or dependency-averse projects.

Repository Migration Confusion

The ongoing migration from briannesbitt/Carbon to CarbonPHP/carbon, as noted in the README, can cause issues with finding historical issues and pull requests, potentially affecting support and contributor experience.

What is Carbon?

Target Audience

Value Proposition

Use Cases

Best For

Building PHP applications that require human-readable date differences (e.g., '2 minutes ago') in multiple languages.
Developing internationalized web services where dates and times must be formatted according to regional preferences.
Writing unit tests that involve date and time logic, using its mocking capabilities to freeze or set specific times.
Simplifying complex date arithmetic and comparisons with a fluent, chainable API instead of verbose procedural code.
Extending PHP's native DateTime functionality while maintaining full compatibility with existing codebases.
Creating applications with time zone handling, such as scheduling systems for global teams or event platforms.

Not Ideal For

Performance-critical applications where native PHP DateTime operations are sufficient and overhead must be minimized.
Projects that enforce immutable data patterns, as Carbon's default instances are mutable and can lead to accidental state changes.
Systems with stringent dependency policies that prefer to avoid external libraries for core language features like date handling.
Simple scripts or one-off tasks where the complexity of a full library isn't justified compared to basic DateTime usage.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Expressive Fluent API

Offers a chainable interface for date manipulation, making code more readable compared to procedural DateTime methods, as shown in README examples like `Carbon::now()->addDay()->subWeek()`.

Extensive Internationalization

Supports over 200 languages and 500 regional variants for human-readable diffs and localized formatting, enabling easy multi-language applications without custom logic.

Seamless DateTime Integration

Extends PHP's native DateTime class, ensuring full compatibility with existing codebases and allowing drop-in replacement without breaking changes.

Built-in Testing Utilities

Includes methods like `setTestNow()` to mock the current time, facilitating reliable unit testing of time-dependent logic, as demonstrated in the README for freezing dates.

Cons

Mutable by Default

Inherits mutability from PHP's DateTime, which can lead to accidental state changes and bugs in applications that assume immutability, especially in concurrent or functional programming contexts.

Performance Overhead

Adds a layer of abstraction over native DateTime, which may introduce slight performance penalties in high-throughput scenarios where raw speed is crucial, such as processing large datasets.

External Dependency

Requires Composer or manual installation, adding an external package for functionality that PHP natively provides, which might be undesirable for minimalistic or dependency-averse projects.

Repository Migration Confusion

Carbon

What is Carbon?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Carbon

What is Carbon?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?