Question

I have the following validation rule in my model:

'dob' => array(
            'required' => array(
                'rule' => array('notEmpty'),
                'message' => 'Date of Birth is required'
            ),
            'age' => array(
                'rule' => array('comparison', '>=', 13),
                'message' => 'You must be over 13 years old'
            )
        )

What I’m trying to achieve is validate that the user is over 13 years old…

The date is created like so:

<?php echo $this->Form->input('Profile.dob', array('label' => 'Date of Birth'
                                        , 'dateFormat' => 'DMY'
                                        , 'minYear' => date('Y') - 110
                                        , 'maxYear' => date('Y') - 13)); ?>

How do I do it though? As the saved data is a date and not a whole number so my comparison won’t work… Looking for simplest solution here without replying on plugins or other external assets and just some simple code if possible.

Thanks.

EDIT: So based on the comments below I have added:

public function checkDOB($check) {
        return strtotime($check['dob']) < strtotime();
    }

But what do I put in the strtotime to check the age is above or EQUAL to 13?

Answer 1

Create a custom validation rule in your model:

public function checkOver13($check) {
  $bday = strtotime($check['dob']);
  if (time() < strtotime('+13 years', $bday)) return false;
  return true;
}

This uses a neat feature of strtotime that lets you easily do date calculations on a particular date.

To use the rule:

'dob' => array(
  'age' => array(
    'rule' => 'checkOver13',
    'message' => 'You must be over 13 years old'
  )
)