What are the advantages of using date_create_from_format and date_modify functions in PHP for age verification?

When verifying a user's age in PHP, it is important to accurately parse and manipulate date formats. The date_create_from_format function allows us to create a DateTime object from a specific format, such as the user's input. The date_modify function then enables us to easily modify the date object by adding or subtracting years, months, days, etc., making it straightforward to verify the user's age.

// User input for birthdate
$birthdate = "1990-05-15";

// Create a DateTime object from the user input format
$date = date_create_from_format('Y-m-d', $birthdate);

// Modify the date object to check if the user is at least 18 years old
date_modify($date, '-18 years');

// Get the current date
$currentDate = new DateTime();

// Compare the modified date with the current date
if ($date <= $currentDate) {
    echo "User is at least 18 years old.";
} else {
    echo "User is under 18 years old.";
}