form_time()

function form_time(string $name, ?string $value = null, array $attributes = []): string

Description

Generates an HTML time input field with a native browser time picker. The input always submits time in 24-hour format (HH:MM or HH:MM:SS), regardless of how the browser displays the time to the user.

Browser Display vs Submitted Format: Browsers display times according to user locale (12-hour with AM/PM in US, 24-hour in Europe), but always submit in consistent 24-hour format that your PHP code can rely on.

Demonstration

Below is the native HTML5 time input rendered by form_time():

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description	Default	Required
$name	string	The name attribute for the input element	N/A	Yes
$value	string\|null	The time value in HH:MM or HH:MM:SS format	null	No
$attributes	array	Additional HTML attributes as key-value pairs	[]	No

Return Value

Type	Description
string	The generated HTML time input element

Understanding the Attributes Array

The $attributes array accepts standard HTML input attributes. For time inputs, these are particularly useful:

Attribute	Description	Example Value
`min`	Earliest selectable time (HH:MM)	`'09:00'`
`max`	Latest selectable time (HH:MM)	`'17:00'`
`step`	Time interval in seconds	`900` (15 minutes)
`required`	Field must have a value	`['required' => true]`
`readonly`	Prevent user editing	`['readonly' => true]`
`disabled`	Disable the input	`['disabled' => true]`

Common Step Values:

60 - 1 minute (browser default)
300 - 5 minutes
900 - 15 minutes
1800 - 30 minutes
3600 - 1 hour
1 - 1 second (for precise timing)

Example #1: Basic Time Input

PHP

echo form_time('start_time');

HTML

Output: <input type="time" name="start_time">

The example above shows the simplest usage. This generates a time input where users can select any time using their browser's native time picker.

Example #2: Time Input with Default Value

PHP

public function create(): void {
    // Set default to 9:00 AM for new bookings
    $data['booking_time'] = '09:00';
    $data['form_location'] = BASE_URL . 'bookings/submit';
    $this->view('booking_form', $data);
}

View file:

View File

<?php
echo form_open($form_location);
echo form_label('Booking Time');
echo form_time('booking_time', $booking_time);
echo form_submit('submit', 'Book Appointment');
echo form_close();
?>

The example above demonstrates setting a default value. Common business hours like 9:00 AM make good defaults for time inputs.

Form Repopulation: After validation errors, use post('field_name', true) in the controller to fetch the submitted value. This returns an empty string if no value was submitted, which works perfectly with form helpers.

Example #3: Appointment System with Constraints

PHP

public function create(): void {
    $data['appointment_time'] = post('appointment_time', true);
    
    // Business hours: 9 AM to 5 PM, 30-minute intervals
    $data['min_time'] = '09:00';
    $data['max_time'] = '17:00';
    
    $data['form_location'] = BASE_URL . 'appointments/submit';
    $this->view('appointment_form', $data);
}

public function submit(): void {
    $this->validation->set_rules('appointment_time', 'appointment time', 'required|valid_time');
    
    if ($this->validation->run() === true) {
        $data['customer_name'] = post('customer_name', true);
        $data['appointment_time'] = post('appointment_time', true);
        
        $this->db->insert($data, 'appointments');
        set_flashdata('Appointment booked successfully');
        redirect('appointments/confirm');
    } else {
        $this->create();
    }
}

View file:

View File

<?php
echo form_open($form_location);
echo form_label('Appointment Time');
$attributes = [
    'min' => $min_time,
    'max' => $max_time,
    'step' => 1800, // 30-minute intervals
    'required' => true
];
echo form_time('appointment_time', $appointment_time, $attributes);
echo form_submit('submit', 'Book Appointment');
echo form_close();
?>

The example above shows how to restrict time selection to business hours with specific intervals. Users can only select times like 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, etc.

Server-side Validation Required: Always validate time inputs server-side with the valid_time rule. Browser validation can be bypassed by malicious users.

Example #4: Complete Store Hours Management

PHP

public function create(): void {
    $update_id = segment(3, 'int');
    
    if ($update_id > 0 && REQUEST_TYPE === 'GET') {
        // Editing existing store hours
        $record = $this->db->get_where($update_id, 'store_hours');
        $data['day_name'] = $record->day_name;
        $data['opening_time'] = $record->opening_time;
        $data['closing_time'] = $record->closing_time;
    } else {
        // New entry or validation error
        $data['day_name'] = post('day_name', true);
        $data['opening_time'] = post('opening_time', true);
        $data['closing_time'] = post('closing_time', true);
    }
    
    $data['form_location'] = BASE_URL . 'hours/submit/' . $update_id;
    $this->view('hours_form', $data);
}

public function submit(): void {
    $update_id = segment(3, 'int');
    
    $this->validation->set_rules('day_name', 'day name', 'required');
    $this->validation->set_rules('opening_time', 'opening time', 'required|valid_time');
    $this->validation->set_rules('closing_time', 'closing time', 'required|valid_time|callback_closing_after_opening');
    
    if ($this->validation->run() === true) {
        $data['day_name'] = post('day_name', true);
        $data['opening_time'] = post('opening_time', true);
        $data['closing_time'] = post('closing_time', true);
        
        if ($update_id > 0) {
            $this->db->update($update_id, $data, 'store_hours');
            set_flashdata('Store hours updated successfully');
        } else {
            $this->db->insert($data, 'store_hours');
            set_flashdata('Store hours added successfully');
        }
        
        redirect('hours/manage');
    } else {
        $this->create();
    }
}

public function callback_closing_after_opening($closing_time): string|bool {
    $opening_time = post('opening_time', true);
    
    if ($opening_time === '' || $closing_time === '') {
        return true; // Let required rule handle empty values
    }
    
    if (strtotime($closing_time) <= strtotime($opening_time)) {
        return 'The {label} must be after the opening time.';
    }
    
    return true;
}

View file:

View File

<?php
echo form_open($form_location);
echo form_label('Day');
echo form_input('day_name', $day_name);

echo form_label('Opening Time');
$open_attrs = [
    'step' => 900, // 15-minute intervals
    'required' => true
];
echo form_time('opening_time', $opening_time, $open_attrs);

echo form_label('Closing Time');
echo form_time('closing_time', $closing_time, $open_attrs);

echo form_submit('submit', 'Save Hours');
echo form_close();
?>

The example above demonstrates a complete store hours management system. Notice the callback validation ensures closing time is after opening time, and segment(3, 'int') is properly type-cast for the update ID.

Database Compatibility: Use MySQL's TIME type for time fields. HTML5 time inputs submit values like "09:00" or "14:30:15" which MySQL accepts directly. If seconds are omitted, MySQL automatically stores them as :00.