To sort a PHP array by date, use usort() with a custom comparison function that converts dates into comparable numeric values. 1. Use usort() with strtotime() to convert standard date strings into Unix timestamps for sorting. 2. For descending order, swap $a and $b in the subtraction. 3. For non-standard formats, use DateTime::createFromFormat() for more accurate parsing. 4. To preserve associative keys, use uasort() instead of usort().
Sorting a PHP array by date is straightforward once you understand how to compare date values within a custom sorting function. Here’s how to do it effectively.

Use usort()
with a Date Comparison Function
PHP doesn't automatically know how to sort complex values like dates in strings or objects. That's where usort()
comes in — it lets you define the comparison logic.

If your array looks something like this:
$events = [ ['name' => 'Event A', 'date' => '2024-12-15'], ['name' => 'Event B', 'date' => '2024-11-20'], ['name' => 'Event C', 'date' => '2025-01-10'], ];
You can sort it using:

usort($events, function($a, $b) { return strtotime($a['date']) - strtotime($b['date']); });
This uses strtotime()
to convert the date strings into Unix timestamps, which are easy to compare numerically.
Note: Make sure the date format is consistent and parseable by
strtotime()
. If not, you might need to useDateTime::createFromFormat()
instead.
Sort by Date in Descending Order
By default, the above example sorts from oldest to newest. To reverse that and get the newest dates first, just swap $a
and $b
in the subtraction:
usort($events, function($a, $b) { return strtotime($b['date']) - strtotime($a['date']); });
This small change flips the order without affecting performance or readability.
Handle Different Date Formats with DateTime
Sometimes your date strings may not be in a standard format. For example:
$events = [ ['name' => 'Event A', 'date' => '15-Dec-2024'], ['name' => 'Event B', 'date' => '20-Nov-2024'], ];
In these cases, strtotime()
might still work, but for better control and validation, use DateTime
:
usort($events, function($a, $b) { $dateA = DateTime::createFromFormat('d-M-Y', $a['date']); $dateB = DateTime::createFromFormat('d-M-Y', $b['date']); return $dateA <=> $dateB; });
This method is more robust when dealing with non-standard or localized date formats.
Keep the Original Array Structure with uasort()
If your array has meaningful keys that you want to preserve (e.g., associative keys), use uasort()
instead of usort()
:
uasort($events, function($a, $b) { return strtotime($a['date']) - strtotime($b['date']); });
This way, the keys stay intact after sorting, which can be important if other parts of your code rely on them.
That's basically it. Sorting a PHP array by date boils down to converting your date values into something numeric and then comparing them. It's not complicated, but getting the format right makes all the difference.
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