DateInterval

dateinterval

/**
 * Interval formatting
 * Requires php 5.3
 * @param DateTime $start
 * @param Bool $and
 */

function format_date_diff($start, $and = false) {
	
	if(!($start instanceof DateTime)) {
		$start = new DateTime($start);
	}

	$end = new DateTime();

	if(!($end instanceof DateTime)) {
		$end = new DateTime($start);
	}

	$interval = $end->diff($start);

	$format = array();
	if($interval->y !== 0) {
		$format[] = "%y " . plural($interval->y, "year");
	}
	if($interval->m !== 0) {
		$format[] = "%m " . plural($interval->m, "month");
	}
	if($interval->d !== 0) {
		$format[] = "%d " . plural($interval->d, "day");
	}
	if($interval->h !== 0) {
		$format[] = "%h " . plural($interval->h, "hour");
	}
	if($interval->i !== 0) {
		$format[] = "%i " . plural($interval->i, "minute");
	}
	if($interval->s !== 0) {
		if(!count($format)) {
			return "less than a minute";
		} else {
			$format[] = "%s " . plural($interval->s, "second");
		}
	}

	// We use the two biggest parts
	if(count($format) > 1) {
		$format = array_shift($format) . ($and ? " and " . array_shift($format) : '');
	} else {
		$format = array_pop($format);
	}

	// Prepend 'since ' or whatever you like
	return $interval->format($format);
}

function plural($n, $s) { return $n > 1 ? $s . 's' : $s; }; // adds plurals