Using WordPress ‘post_date_column_time’ PHP filter

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The post_date_column_time WordPress PHP filter allows you to modify the published time of the post in the admin post list.

Usage

add_filter('post_date_column_time', 'my_custom_published_time', 10, 4);

function my_custom_published_time($t_time, $post, $column_name, $mode) {
    // your custom code here
    return $t_time;
}

Parameters

  • $t_time (string) – The published time.
  • $post (WP_Post) – Post object.
  • $column_name (string) – The column name.
  • $mode (string) – The list display mode (‘excerpt’ or ‘list’).

More information

See WordPress Developer Resources: post_date_column_time

Examples

Change the date format of the published time

Change the date format of the published time to a custom format.

add_filter('post_date_column_time', 'custom_published_time_format', 10, 4);

function custom_published_time_format($t_time, $post, $column_name, $mode) {
    return get_the_time('F j, Y g:i a', $post);
}

Add a custom prefix to the published time

Add a custom prefix like “Published at” to the published time.

add_filter('post_date_column_time', 'add_prefix_to_published_time', 10, 4);

function add_prefix_to_published_time($t_time, $post, $column_name, $mode) {
    return 'Published at ' . $t_time;
}

Show time ago instead of the published time

Display the time ago, like “2 hours ago”, instead of the published time.

add_filter('post_date_column_time', 'show_time_ago', 10, 4);

function show_time_ago($t_time, $post, $column_name, $mode) {
    return human_time_diff(get_post_time('U', true, $post), current_time('timestamp')) . ' ago';
}

Display published time only for a specific column

Modify the published time only for a specific custom column.

add_filter('post_date_column_time', 'modify_published_time_for_specific_column', 10, 4);

function modify_published_time_for_specific_column($t_time, $post, $column_name, $mode) {
    if ($column_name == 'my_custom_column') {
        return 'Custom: ' . $t_time;
    }
    return $t_time;
}

Hide the published time for draft posts

Hide the published time for draft posts in the admin post list.

add_filter('post_date_column_time', 'hide_published_time_for_drafts', 10, 4);

function hide_published_time_for_drafts($t_time, $post, $column_name, $mode) {
    if ($post->post_status == 'draft') {
        return '—';
    }
    return $t_time;
}