What are the benefits of storing date and time values as timestamps in an Oracle database when working with PHP?

Storing date and time values as timestamps in an Oracle database when working with PHP allows for easier manipulation and comparison of dates and times. Timestamps are stored in a standardized format, making it simpler to perform calculations and queries. Additionally, timestamps are timezone-independent, ensuring consistency across different time zones.

// Storing a date and time value as a timestamp in an Oracle database
$date = date('Y-m-d H:i:s');
$timestamp = strtotime($date);

// Inserting the timestamp value into the database
$query = "INSERT INTO table_name (timestamp_column) VALUES (:timestamp)";
$statement = $connection->prepare($query);
$statement->bindParam(':timestamp', $timestamp);
$statement->execute();