What are the advantages of using DateTime objects in PHP for handling date calculations and comparisons?

When working with dates in PHP, using DateTime objects is advantageous for handling date calculations and comparisons because they provide a more object-oriented approach to working with dates. DateTime objects offer a wide range of methods for manipulating dates, calculating intervals, and comparing dates accurately. They also take care of time zone conversions and daylight saving time adjustments, making them a reliable choice for date-related operations.

// Example of using DateTime objects for date calculations and comparisons

$date1 = new DateTime('2022-01-15');
$date2 = new DateTime('2022-02-20');

// Calculate the difference between two dates
$interval = $date1->diff($date2);
echo "Difference: " . $interval->format('%R%a days') . "\n";

// Compare two dates
if ($date1 < $date2) {
    echo "Date 1 is before Date 2\n";
} else {
    echo "Date 1 is after Date 2\n";
}