Time ago

gistfile1.php

<?php
function nicetime($date){
    if(empty($date)) {
        return "No date provided";
    }
    
    $periods = array("second", "minute", "hour", "day", "week", "month", "year", "decade");
    $lengths = array("60","60","24","7","4.35","12","10");
	    
    $now = time();
    $unix_date = strtotime($date);
    
    // check validity of date
    if(empty($unix_date)) {
    	return "Bad date";
    }

	    // is it future date or past date
	    if($now > $unix_date) {    
	        $difference     = $now - $unix_date;
	        $tense         = "ago";
	        
	    } else {
	        $difference     = $unix_date - $now;
	        $tense         = "from now";
	    }
	    
	    for($j = 0; $difference >= $lengths[$j] && $j < count($lengths)-1; $j++) {
	        $difference /= $lengths[$j];
	    }
	    
	    $difference = round($difference);
	    
	    if($difference != 1) {
	        $periods[$j].= "s";
	    }
	    
	    return "$difference $periods[$j] {$tense}";
	}