The date_sub Function

The date_sub function subtracts a time interval from a date object. The first parameter accepts a DateTime object, the second - a DateInterval object.

Syntax

phpdate_sub(DateTime $object, DateInterval $interval);

Example

Subtract 10 days from the specified date:

php<?php
  $date = new DateTime('2025-06-15');
  $interval = new DateInterval('P10D');
  
  date_sub($date, $interval);
  echo $date->format('Y-m-d');
?>

Code execution result:

php'2025-06-05'

Example

Subtract 1 year and 2 months from the date:

php<?php
  $date = new DateTime('2025-03-20');
  $interval = new DateInterval('P1Y2M');
  
  date_sub($date, $interval);
  echo $date->format(
Y-m-d');
?>

Code execution result:

php'2024-01-20'

Example

The date_create function returns a DateTime object. You can rewrite the code in a mixed style, partially OOP and partially functional:

php<?php
  $date = date_create('2025-03-20');
  $interval = new DateInterval('P1Y2M');
  
  date_sub($date, $interval);
  echo date_format($date, 'Y-m-d');
?>

Code execution result:

php'2024-01-20'

See Also