Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

PHP CRUD Operations with PHP Creating Records Validating User Data

Brian Thomas
Brian Thomas
10,688 Points
Posted by Brian Thomas
Brian Thomas
10,688 Points

Am I using the checkdate function correctly?

Unsure of what I could be doing wrong.

index.php 
<?php
$date = '2017-01-01';
$date = explode('-', $date);
//var_dump($date);
function valid_sql_date($date) {
    //add code here

  if(count($date) != 3 
     || strlen($date[0]) != 4
     || strlen($date[1]) != 2
     || strlen($date[2]) !=2
     || checkdate($date[0], $date[1], $date[2])
    )  {

    //echo $date;
    return false;
  }
  else
  {
    var_dump($date);
    //echo $date;
    return true;

  }

};

//var dump returns the $date variable that is set before the function  
var_dump(valid_sql_date($date));


/*

the code seems to follow the explode method and if statement but 
when setting a var dump or echo to the $date variable within the if statement
to troubleshoot it returns '2016/31/08' while also out putting true and the correct 
variable assignment in the else 
  */

1 Answer

Jennifer Nordell
seal-mask
STAFF
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Jennifer Nordell
Treehouse Teacher
Jennifer Nordell
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree
Jennifer Nordell
Treehouse Teacher

Hi there, Brian Thomas ! It looks like you're off to a great start. There are a couple of things going on here. First, you're meant to be checking if checkdate does not return a true so you will need !checkdate().

Secondly, that $datematch contains the year, month, and day in that order. But checkdate requires that you send in the month, day and year in that order. This means that you will need a !checkdate($datematch[1], $datematch[2], $datematch[0]) because the year should come last :smiley:

Hope this helps! :sparkles:

edited for additional information: For the purposes of challenges you should refrain from making any variables or executable code outside the function. It can cause the challenge to fail. Right now, you are overwriting the data that Treehouse is sending in from the challenge by setting your own $date. You will also need to remove the call to the function and any and all var_dumps you have.