sample code from an MVC joomla component

js.php

<?php
/* Model Code */

class ComponentModelView extends JModelLegacy
{
  public function getItem()
  {
		$id = JFactory::getApplication()->input->getInt('cid');
		
		$row = JTable::getInstance('chapter', 'RootflickTable');
		
		$row->load($id);
		
		$nowDate = JFactory::getDate();
		
		if($nowDate < $row->sub_up)
		{
			$row->sub_start_days_remaining = date('j', strtotime($row->sub_up) - strtotime($nowDate));
      // sets up the remaining time as a php variable
		}
		return $row;
	} 
}

/* viewname.php */

/* js area to change the time client-side */
<script type="javascript">
// js code I haven't written yet but I can use: <?php echo $this->item->sub_start_days_remaining; ?> to give it values later
$('time').updateTimeWithThisFunction();
</script>

<?php if ($this->item->sub_start_days_remaining): ?>
  		<h5>
				<div class="time"></div>
			</h5>
<?php endif;?>