How to copy a DateTime object in PHP ? Last Updated : 20 Aug, 2021 Comments Improve Suggest changes Like Article Like Report Given a DateTime object and the task is to create a copy of that object. To create a copy of DateTime object we use clone keyword which is described below:A copy of DateTime object is created by using the clone keyword (which calls the object’s __clone() method if possible). An object’s __clone() method cannot be called directly. When an object is cloned, PHP will perform a shallow copy of all of the object’s properties. Any properties that are references to other variables will remain references. Syntax: $DateTime_copy_object_name = clone $DateTime_object_to_be_copied Below examples illustrate the cloning of DateTime object in PHP: Example 1: PHP <?php // Program to create copy of DateTime object // Creating object $obj = new DateTime(); // Creating clone or copy of object $copy = clone $obj; // Printing initial values echo "Printing initial values\n"; $result = $obj->format('Y-m-d H:i:s'); echo "Original object: $result\n"; $result = $copy->format('Y-m-d H:i:s'); echo "Cloned object: $result\n\n"; // Changing original object ($obj) value // to verify other($copy) is clone or not // This statement will add 3 Days $obj->add(new DateInterval('P3D')); // Printing values echo "Printing values after change\n"; $result = $obj->format('Y-m-d H:i:s'); echo "Original object: $result\n"; $result = $copy->format('Y-m-d H:i:s'); echo "Cloned object: $result\n"; ?> Output: Printing initial values Original object: 2020-04-14 17:14:18 Cloned object: 2020-04-14 17:14:18 Printing values after change Original object: 2020-04-17 17:14:18 Cloned object: 2020-04-14 17:14:18 Example 2: Below program distinguishes clone from assignment ( = ) operator. PHP <?php // Program to create copy of DateTime object // Creating object $obj = new DateTime(); // Creating clone or copy of object $copy = clone $obj; $ref_obj = $obj; // Printing initial values echo "Printing initial values\n"; $result = $obj->format('Y-m-d H:i:s'); echo "Original object: $result\n"; $result = $ref_obj->format('Y-m-d H:i:s'); echo "Reference object: $result\n"; $result = $copy->format('Y-m-d H:i:s'); echo "Cloned object: $result\n\n"; // Changing original object ($obj) value // to verify other($copy) is clone or not // This statement will add 3 Months $obj->add(new DateInterval('P3M')); // Printing values echo "Printing values after change\n"; $result = $obj->format('Y-m-d H:i:s'); echo "Original object: $result\n"; $result = $ref_obj->format('Y-m-d H:i:s'); echo "Reference object: $result\n"; $result = $copy->format('Y-m-d H:i:s'); echo "Cloned object: $result\n"; ?> Output: Printing initial values Original object: 2020-04-14 17:14:49 Reference object: 2020-04-14 17:14:49 Cloned object: 2020-04-14 17:14:49 Printing values after change Original object: 2020-07-14 17:14:49 Reference object: 2020-07-14 17:14:49 Cloned object: 2020-04-14 17:14:49 So, to make a copy of the object we use clone, don't use (=) operator as it creates a reference. 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