/**
* Generates all dates between a start and end date inclusive.
* Uses native DatePeriod and DateTimeImmutable for robust, modern PHP date handling.
*
* @param string $startDateStr Start date in "YYYY-MM-DD" format.
* @param string $endDateStr End date in "YYYY-MM-DD" format.
* @return array An array of date strings in "YYYY-MM-DD" format, or an empty array on error.
*/
function getDatesBetween(string $startDateStr, string $endDateStr): array {
try {
// 1. Parse into immutable DateTime objects (prevents accidental date modifications)
$startDate = new DateTimeImmutable($startDateStr);
$endDate = new DateTimeImmutable($endDateStr);
// 2. Validate that the date range is logically sound
if ($startDate > $endDate) {
throw new InvalidArgumentException("Start date cannot be after the end date.");
}
// 3. Create a 1-day interval
$interval = new DateInterval('P1D');
// 4. Create a DatePeriod including the end date (supported in PHP 8.2+)
// If you are on an older PHP version (< 8.2), you can add 1 day to the end date instead.
$period = new DatePeriod(
$startDate,
$interval,
$endDate,
DatePeriod::INCLUDE_END_DATE
);
$dates = [];
// 5. Iterate through the period and format each date
foreach ($period as $date) {
$dates[] = $date->format('Y-m-d');
}
return $dates;
} catch (Exception $e) {
// Handle malformed strings or invalid calendar dates (e.g., "2026-02-31")
error_log("Date Generation Error: " . $e->getMessage());
return [];
}
}
// --- Example Usage ---
$start = "2026-02-26";
$end = "2026-03-02";
$dates = getDatesBetween($start, $end);
echo "Dates between $start and $end:\n";
foreach ($dates as $date) {
echo $date . "\n";
}
/*
run:
Dates between 2026-02-26 and 2026-03-02:
2026-02-26
2026-02-27
2026-02-28
2026-03-01
2026-03-02
*/
