How to Get WordPress Post Date Using PHP (+2 Examples)

Retrieving publish date of a WordPress post using get_the_date function

get_the_date function is introduced by WordPress to let developers get publish date of a specific post ID or current post inside a loop.

This function receives 2 optional arguments:

1. Date format: you can specify the format, using PHP date formats
2. Post ID or WP_Post object: retrieving title of specific post

get_the_date syntax in WordPress:

get_the_date(string $format = '', int|WP_Post $post)

Keep reading for examples…

Get specific post publish date in WordPress using post ID

In this example we’ll try to print publish date of a post with an ID equal to 1:

$postId = 1;
echo get_the_time('Y-m-d', $postId);

Get publish date of current post in WordPress

If you are interested in printing publish date of the current post (inside a loop or single.php file), use get_the_time function with no post id.

Example of using this function inside a loop:

$posts = new WP_Query(array('post_type' => 'post')); //retrieve posts
if($posts->have_posts() ) {
    while($posts->have_posts() ) {
        $posts->the_post();
        echo get_the_time('Y-m-d'); //Echos date in Y-m-d format.
    }
}

$posts->the_post() will change the global $post object in WordPress. this object is the reference for the get_the_time function when you do not specify the ID.

Remember to reset the global $post object back to WordPress default after changing it. You only need to use the wp_reset_postdata function to reset it back after custom loops.

If you are a hard-working student, keep reading. you can read How to set publishing date and time for a WordPress post Programmatically? in my tutorial archive.

A good start point for my new visitors is How to create a Hello World plugin for WordPress in 3 Steps article which contains good tips for those who want to use standard codes and methods.