What are the advantages of storing dates as timestamps in PHP and MySQL?

Storing dates as timestamps in PHP and MySQL has several advantages. Timestamps are more efficient for database storage and retrieval compared to date formats. They also allow for easier manipulation and comparison of dates in PHP code. Additionally, timestamps are timezone-independent, making it easier to handle dates in different timezones.

// Storing a date as a timestamp in PHP and MySQL
$date = strtotime('2022-01-01'); // Convert date to timestamp
$query = "INSERT INTO table_name (date_column) VALUES ($date)";
mysqli_query($connection, $query);