[5.6] Ability to cast model attributes to a specific date format

[themsaid]

Given the following casts:

public $casts = [
    'birthdate' => 'date:Y-m-d',
    'joined_at' => 'datetime:Y-m-d H:00',
];

When the model is casted to JSON or array output the attributes will be formatted to the date formats provided by the developer:

birthdate: 2000-10-15
joined_at: 2017-10-15 05:00

[sisve]

It's unclear from the example, does this also support datetime:Y-m-d (using the datetime rule instead of the date rule)?

[themsaid]

No, date:* is a different casting type.

[sisve]

Is there any particular reason for this? Wouldn't it make sense to support formats on both date and datetimes? (And sure, you can write formats for date that includes times, and formats for datetimes that exclude times. That's just something we'll have to live with.)

[themsaid]

you can write formats for date that includes times, and formats for datetimes that exclude times. That's just something we'll have to live with

That's the point, use date:.... with whatever format you wish.

[sisve]

I understand that, but there will be people surprised that their format is not working. Why should this work with date, and not with datetime? Can we implement it for both? Is there some limitation in the framework, like is the syntax already taken by something else? Or are we just attempting to surprise developers with "yeah, you can format date as datetimes, but datetimes themselves cannot be formatted"?

[themsaid]

I'm not opposing having datetime: as alias for date:, let's wait and see what Taylor thinks.

[bkilshaw]

@themsaid Do you agree that having inconsistent behaviour is a bad thing? If so, why not update the PR to make sure both date and datetime are consistent with one another?

[taylorotwell]

I'm fine with having datetime cast be customizable too.

[themsaid]

Updated, now date:Y-m-d H:i and datetime:Y-m-d H:i would work

[monaye]

what is the best way to set format dynamically, based on user preference?

[BrandonSurowiec]

@monaye You could add a method to your Model that manipulates the internal $casts = []; array. (If for a JSON response).

PS. This repo isn't for support. Try asking your question on one of the many great community support areas that will likely give you a better answer more quickly:

• Laravel Slack (https://larachat.co)
• Laravel.io Forum (https://laravel.io/forum)
• Laracasts Forum (https://laracasts.com/discuss)
• StackOverflow (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/laravel)

[SharmaPrakhar25]

Sir, with all due respect I have tried to implement this property in my Laravel app which was successful in my local but I am unable to implement it on my server, is there anything we need to do to make this accomplish.