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Modifier: :human

:human means different things depending on the merge tag or the kind of field:

Relative date

On {date_created}, {date_updated}, {payment_date}.

Renders as "3 hours ago" only while the value is under 24 hours old; a formatted date otherwise. Unlike diff, which is always relative.

ProductGravity Forms
RequiresGravity Forms 1.9 or later
Works on{date_created}, {date_updated}, {payment_date}
In the pickerWhat to show

Examples

Rendered by real Gravity Forms and GravityKit PHP against a test entry.

Merge tagOutputWithout the modifier
{date_created:human}3 hours agoJanuary 15, 2026
{date_updated:human}3 hours agoJanuary 15, 2026
{payment_date:human}3 hours agoJanuary 15, 2026
{date_created:human}

Rendered against an entry nine days older, where the result differs.

January 6, 2026January 15, 2026
{date_updated:human}

Rendered against an entry nine days older, where the result differs.

January 6, 2026January 15, 2026
{payment_date:human}

Rendered against an entry nine days older, where the result differs.

January 6, 2026January 15, 2026

Where the merge tag picker offers it

Merge tags: {date_created} · {date_updated} · {payment_date}.

Human-readable time difference

On Date, Time fields.

Always renders a relative phrase like "3 days ago" -- hard-codes diff internally, so unlike date_created:human it never falls back to a formatted date. Date and Time fields only; every other field type is returned untouched.

ProductGravityView
RequiresGravityView 2.29 or later
Works onDate, Time fields
In the pickerChange the output

How to use it

Say how long ago a date was

Write

Born {Birthday:13:human}

Get

Born 47 years ago

Examples

Rendered by real Gravity Forms and GravityKit PHP against a test entry.

Merge tagOutputWithout the modifier
{Birthday:13:human}47 years ago04/27/1979

Where the merge tag picker offers it

Form fields: Date · Date, after a custom format · Time.