In what situations would it be more efficient to perform date calculations and comparisons directly in SQL queries rather than in PHP scripts?

Performing date calculations and comparisons directly in SQL queries can be more efficient when dealing with large datasets or when the date-related logic is complex. This approach leverages the database's built-in date functions and indexing capabilities, reducing the amount of data transferred between the database and PHP scripts. By offloading the date operations to the database, you can benefit from optimized query execution plans and potentially improve overall performance.

// Example of querying data from a MySQL database with date calculations directly in SQL
$startDate = '2022-01-01';
$endDate = '2022-12-31';

$sql = "SELECT * FROM orders WHERE order_date BETWEEN '$startDate' AND '$endDate'";
// Add more date-related conditions or calculations directly in the SQL query

// Execute the SQL query using your preferred PHP database connection method