date format php example day name

Example 1: php get day from date

$timestamp = strtotime('2009-10-22');

$day = date('D', $timestamp);
var_dump($day);

Example 2: name of today php

$datetime = DateTime::createFromFormat('YmdHi', '201308131830');
echo $datetime->format('D');

// or 

$date = new \DateTime();
echo $date->format("D");