How do I compare two DateTime objects in PHP 5.2.8?

To compare two DateTime objects in PHP 5.2.8, you can use the DateTime::diff() method, which returns a DateInterval object representing the difference between the two dates. You can then use the DateInterval::invert property to determine which date is earlier.

Here's an example of how to compare two dates and determine which is earlier:

<?php

$date1 = new DateTime('2022-01-01');
$date2 = new DateTime('2023-01-01');

$interval = $date1->diff($date2);

if ($interval->invert == 1) {
    // $date2 is earlier than $date1
    echo '$date2 is earlier than $date1';
} else {
    // $date1 is earlier than $date2
    echo '$date1 is earlier than $date2';
}

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Alternatively, you can use the DateTime::format() method to format the dates as strings and then compare the strings directly, like this:

<?php

$date1 = new DateTime('2022-01-01');
$date2 = new DateTime('2023-01-01');

$date1_str = $date1->format('Y-m-d');
$date2_str = $date2->format('Y-m-d');

if ($date1_str < $date2_str) {
    // $date1 is earlier than $date2
    echo '$date1 is earlier than $date2';
} else {
    // $date2 is earlier than $date1
    echo '$date2 is earlier than $date1';
}