Question

What is the best way to store user BIRTHDATES in MySQL/PHP and why?

I’m currently storing it as a VARCHAR(10) in the following format:

MM-DD-YYYY

…but I have a feeling this isn’t the best way, especially since I sometimes see invalid years in that field.

Please don’t just say what the best method is, also explain why it’s the best method so that I can be convinced to change the entire way birthdates are handled on my site, which is a huge undertaking should that be needed.

Thanks.

Answer 1

mySQL has a native field type for dates: DATE.

Please don’t just say what the best method is, also explain why it’s the best method so that I can be convinced to change the entire way birthdates are handled on my site, which is a huge undertaking should that be needed.

Not sure what further explanation to give 🙂 If you want to store dates in a mySQL table, DATE simply is the one correct choice. It comes with optimized indexing for queries like >, < and BETWEEN, sorts fast, and can deal with any date from the years 1001-9999, so this really is the way to go.