What best practices should be followed when working with datetime values in PHP?

When working with datetime values in PHP, it is important to ensure that you are using the correct timezone and format to avoid any discrepancies or errors in your date and time calculations. It is recommended to always set the timezone explicitly to avoid any unexpected behavior. Additionally, using PHP's built-in DateTime class can simplify working with datetime values and provide useful methods for manipulation.

// Set the timezone to ensure consistency
date_default_timezone_set('America/New_York');

// Create a new DateTime object with the current date and time
$now = new DateTime();

// Format the datetime value as a string
$formattedDate = $now->format('Y-m-d H:i:s');

echo $formattedDate;