Date and Time Functions

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  1. Date and Time Functions in MediaWiki

This article provides a comprehensive guide to using date and time functions within MediaWiki templates and extensions. These functions are crucial for dynamic content generation, displaying timely information, and automating tasks based on time-sensitive criteria. This guide is aimed at beginners, but will also prove useful for those looking to refresh their understanding of these powerful features. We will cover the core functions, their syntax, common use cases, and potential pitfalls.

    1. Introduction to Date and Time Handling

MediaWiki uses a specific format for representing dates and times internally. Understanding this format is the foundation for effectively utilizing date and time functions. MediaWiki’s date and time handling is heavily reliant on the PHP date/time functions, but provides a simplified interface through its template language. It’s important to note that MediaWiki typically stores dates and times as Unix timestamps – the number of seconds since the Unix epoch (January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC). Most functions operate on, or return values as, these timestamps.

    1. Core Date and Time Functions

Here's a breakdown of the most frequently used date and time functions in MediaWiki. These functions are primarily used within Templates, Parser functions, and custom Extensions.

      1. `Template:TIME`

This function returns the current server time in the format specified by the `$wgTimeFormat` configuration variable. The default format is typically `H:i:s` (hours:minutes:seconds).

  • Example:* If the current time is 14:35:10, `Template:TIME` will output `14:35:10`.
      1. `Template:CURDATE`

Returns the current date in the format specified by the `$wgDateFormat` configuration variable. The default format is typically `Y-m-d` (year-month-day).

  • Example:* If today is February 29, 2024, `Template:CURDATE` will output `2024-02-29`.
      1. `06:20`

Returns the current server time, formatted according to the user's preferences, as defined in their user profile's time zone settings. This is important for providing localized time displays. It relies on the user having a configured time zone.

  • Syntax:* `06:20`
  • Example:* The output will vary based on the user's time zone.
      1. `Template:LOCALDATE`

Returns the current date, formatted according to the user's preferences, as defined in their user profile's date format settings. Like `06:20`, this requires the user to have a configured date format.

  • Example:* The output will vary based on the user's date format.
      1. `Template:TIMESTAMP`

This function returns the current Unix timestamp (seconds since the Unix epoch). This is the underlying representation of dates and times within MediaWiki. It's frequently used as input for other date/time functions.

      1. `Template:FORMATTIME`

This is arguably the most versatile function. It allows you to format a Unix timestamp into a custom date and time string using PHP's `date()` function formatting codes.

  • Parameters:*
   * `timestamp`:  The Unix timestamp to format.  Can be a number, a variable containing a timestamp, or the keyword `NOW` to use the current timestamp.
   * `format`:  The PHP `date()` function format string.  Refer to the PHP documentation ([1](https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.date.php)) for a complete list of available codes.
  • Example:*
   * `Template:FORMATTIME:NOW:Y-m-d H:i:s`  will output the current date and time in the format `2024-02-29 14:35:10`.
   * `Template:FORMATTIME:1709217300:F j, Y` will output `February 29, 2024`.
      1. `Template:TIMEZONE`

Allows you to convert a timestamp to a specific time zone. Requires the `IntlDateFormatter` extension to be installed and configured.

  • Parameters:*
   * `timestamp`: The Unix timestamp to convert.
   * `timezone`: The time zone identifier (e.g., `America/Los_Angeles`, `Europe/London`).  Refer to the PHP documentation ([2](https://www.php.net/manual/en/timezones.php)) for a list of valid time zones.
  • Example:* `{{TIMEZONE:Template:TIMESTAMP:America/Los_Angeles}}` will output the current time in Los Angeles.
      1. `Template:DIFFTIME`

Calculates the difference between two timestamps.

  • Parameters:*
   * `timestamp1`: The first timestamp.
   * `timestamp2`: The second timestamp.
   * `format`: The format string specifying how to display the difference.  Common formats include `s` (seconds), `i` (minutes), `h` (hours), `d` (days).
    1. Advanced Techniques and Considerations
      1. Working with Variables

You can store timestamps in variables and use them with these functions. This is particularly useful when creating templates that require dynamic date and time calculations. For example:

```wiki {{#assign:event_start_timestamp|Template:TIMESTAMP}} {{FORMATTIME:Template:Value:event start timestamp:Y-m-d H:i:s}} ```

This code snippet assigns the current timestamp to the variable `event_start_timestamp` and then formats it for display.

      1. Conditional Logic with Date and Time

You can combine date and time functions with conditional statements (using `#if`, `#ifeq`, etc.) to create dynamic content that changes based on the current date or time. For example, displaying a message only during specific hours. This is useful for displaying limited-time offers or event reminders.

      1. Time Zones and Localization

Always be mindful of time zones when dealing with dates and times. Using `06:20` and `Template:LOCALDATE` is recommended for user-facing displays to ensure that times are shown correctly based on the user's preferences. For server-side operations, consider using UTC timestamps and converting them to local time zones as needed. Consider the impact of Daylight Saving Time when performing calculations.

      1. Performance Considerations

Frequent use of date and time functions, especially `Template:FORMATTIME` and `Template:TIMEZONE`, can impact performance, particularly on high-traffic wikis. Cache results whenever possible and avoid unnecessary calculations. Consider using Database queries to pre-calculate and store frequently used date and time values.

      1. Error Handling

Be aware that incorrect timestamp values or invalid format strings can lead to errors. Implement error handling mechanisms (e.g., using `#iferror`) to gracefully handle these situations. Ensure that input timestamps are valid before using them in calculations.

      1. Integration with Other Systems

When integrating with external systems, ensure that date and time formats are consistent. Consider using the ISO 8601 format (e.g., `2024-02-29T14:35:10Z`) for data exchange, as it is a widely recognized standard.

    1. Common Use Cases
  • **Event Scheduling:** Displaying event start and end times, calculating time remaining until an event, and automatically updating event status based on the current time.
  • **News and Article Timestamps:** Displaying the date and time an article was published or last modified.
  • **User Activity Tracking:** Tracking user login times, last edit times, and other activity-related timestamps.
  • **Expiration Dates:** Displaying expiration dates for offers, subscriptions, or other time-sensitive content.
  • **Age Calculation:** Calculating the age of a user or the duration since an event occurred.
  • **Countdown Timers:** Creating dynamic countdown timers for events or promotions.
  • **Archiving and Purging:** Automatically archiving or purging old articles or data based on their age.
  • **Dynamic Content Updates:** Displaying different content based on the current time of day or day of the week. Relates to Volatility patterns.
    1. Related Concepts and Resources
  • **Parser functions**: A powerful set of functions for manipulating content within MediaWiki pages.
  • **Templates**: Reusable blocks of code that can be used to generate dynamic content.
  • **Extensions**: Add-ons that extend the functionality of MediaWiki.
  • **PHP `date()` function**: ([3](https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.date.php)) – The underlying function used for formatting dates and times.
  • **PHP `strtotime()` function**: ([4](https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.strtotime.php)) – Converts a human-readable date/time string to a Unix timestamp. Useful for converting input strings to timestamps for use with MediaWiki functions.
  • **Unix timestamps**: ([5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_time)) – The standard representation of dates and times in MediaWiki.
  • **Time Zones**: ([6](https://www.php.net/manual/en/timezones.php)) – A list of valid time zone identifiers.
  • **Technical Analysis**: Using date and time functions to analyze historical data and identify Support and Resistance levels.
  • **Trading Strategies**: Implementing date/time-based conditions in automated Trading Algorithms.
  • **Market Trends**: Identifying seasonal Market Cycles through date analysis.
  • **Candlestick Patterns**: Analyzing time-based formations in Candlestick Charts.
  • **Moving Averages**: Calculating moving averages over specific time periods. Relates to Trend Following.
  • **Bollinger Bands**: Setting timeframes for Bollinger Band calculations.
  • **Fibonacci Retracements**: Applying Fibonacci levels to time-based chart segments.
  • **Elliott Wave Theory**: Identifying wave patterns based on time projections.
  • **Ichimoku Cloud**: Analyzing time-based signals within the Ichimoku Cloud indicator.
  • **MACD**: Using time-based settings for MACD calculations.
  • **RSI**: Utilizing timeframes for RSI analysis.
  • **Stochastic Oscillator**: Adjusting time periods for Stochastic Oscillator parameters.
  • **ATR (Average True Range)**: Calculating ATR over various time intervals.
  • **Volume Analysis**: Examining trading volume trends over time.
  • **Chart Patterns**: Identifying time-based chart formations like Head and Shoulders or Double Top.
  • **Seasonality**: Analyzing recurring patterns based on specific dates or times of the year.
  • **Backtesting**: Simulating trading strategies over historical time periods.
  • **Risk Management**: Setting time-based stop-loss orders and take-profit levels.
  • **Position Sizing**: Adjusting position sizes based on time horizons.
  • **Correlation Analysis**: Examining the relationship between assets over time.
  • **Volatility Analysis**: Measuring the volatility of assets over different timeframes.
  • **Sentiment Analysis**: Monitoring market sentiment over time.
  • **Economic Calendars**: Integrating economic data releases with date and time functions.
  • **News Sentiment**: Analyzing the timing of news events and their impact on markets.
  • **Algorithmic Trading**: Automating trading decisions based on time-based rules.
  • **High-Frequency Trading**: Utilizing precise timestamps for high-speed trading.
  • **Time Series Analysis**: Applying statistical methods to analyze time-based data.

Help:Formatting dates and times provides further guidance.

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