Modifier: :format
:format means different things depending on the merge tag or the kind of field:
- Custom date format on {date_created}, {date_updated}, {payment_date}, {today}
- Custom date format on Date, Time fields
- Custom date format on {now}, {yesterday}, {tomorrow}
Custom date format
On {date_created}, {date_updated}, {payment_date}, {today}.
A PHP date() format string. The format is the NEXT colon-separated token, not part of this one; escape any literal colon inside it as \:.
| Product | Gravity Forms |
|---|---|
| Requires | Gravity Forms 1.9 or later |
| Works on | {date_created}, {date_updated}, {payment_date}, {today} |
| In the picker | Change the output |
Examples
Rendered by real Gravity Forms and GravityKit PHP against a test entry.
| Merge tag | Output | Without the modifier |
|---|---|---|
{date_created:format:Y-m-d} | 2026-01-15 | January 15, 2026 |
{date_updated:format:Y-m-d} | 2026-01-15 | January 15, 2026 |
{payment_date:format:Y-m-d} | 2026-01-15 | January 15, 2026 |
{today:format:Y-m-d} | 2026-01-15 | January 15, 2026 |
{date_created:format:Y-m-d}Rendered against an entry nine days older, where the result differs. | 2026-01-06 | January 15, 2026 |
{date_updated:format:Y-m-d}Rendered against an entry nine days older, where the result differs. | 2026-01-06 | January 15, 2026 |
{payment_date:format:Y-m-d}Rendered against an entry nine days older, where the result differs. | 2026-01-06 | January 15, 2026 |
Where the merge tag picker offers it
Merge tags: {date_created} · {date_updated} · {payment_date} · {today}.
Custom date format
On Date, Time fields.
A PHP date() format string, attached inline with a colon. Escape a literal colon inside the format as \:. Case matters: format:Y-m-d and format:y-m-d are different dates.
| Product | GravityView |
|---|---|
| Requires | GravityView 2.26 or later |
| Works on | Date, Time fields |
| In the picker | Change the output |
How to use it
Write a date out in words
Uses PHP date format characters. Put a backslash before each comma in the format: a bare comma starts the next modifier, so the date would stop at the first one.
Write
Born on {Birthday:13:format:l\, F jS\, Y}Get
Born on Friday, April 27th, 1979Examples
Rendered by real Gravity Forms and GravityKit PHP against a test entry.
| Merge tag | Output | Without the modifier |
|---|---|---|
{Birthday:13:format:m\:d} | 04:27 | 04/27/1979 |
Where the merge tag picker offers it
Custom date format
On {now}, {yesterday}, {tomorrow}.
A PHP date() format string. Attached with a colon and consumes the rest of the modifier string, so it must come last; escape a literal colon as \:.
| Product | GravityView |
|---|---|
| Requires | GravityView 2.30 or later |
| Works on | {now}, {yesterday}, {tomorrow} |
| In the picker | Change the output |
Examples
Rendered by real Gravity Forms and GravityKit PHP against a test entry.
| Merge tag | Output | Without the modifier |
|---|---|---|
{now:format:Y-m-d} | 2026-01-15 | January 15, 2026 |
{yesterday:format:Y-m-d} | 2026-01-14 | January 14, 2026 |
{tomorrow:format:Y-m-d} | 2026-01-16 | January 16, 2026 |
Where the merge tag picker offers it
Merge tags: {now} · {yesterday} · {tomorrow}.