Yajra Datatables changes datetimes incorrectly when using the datatables server side processing.

Yajra Datatables changes datetimes incorrectly when using the datatables server side processing.

When using Yajra Datatables with server-side processing, there can be issues with datetime values being displayed incorrectly. This issue is often caused by timezone differences between the server and the client. Here's a comprehensive and detailed answer to help you understand the problem and find a solution.

Understanding the Problem

When using Yajra Datatables with server-side processing, the data is fetched from the server in JSON format, and then displayed in the Datatables table. By default, Datatables assumes that all datetime values in the JSON response are in the UTC timezone. However, if the datetime values in the database are in a different timezone, they will be displayed incorrectly when using Datatables.

For example, let's say you have a Laravel application with a MySQL database that stores datetime values in the 'Europe/London' timezone. When you use Yajra Datatables with server-side processing to fetch and display this data, the datetime values will be displayed incorrectly because they are not in the UTC timezone that Datatables assumes.

Solution

To solve this problem, you need to ensure that the datetime values in the JSON response are in the correct timezone. There are two ways to do this:

1. Convert the datetime values to UTC on the server before returning them in the JSON response.
2. Convert the datetime values to the correct timezone on the client-side using Datatables.

Option 1: Convert Datetimes to UTC on the Server

To convert datetime values to UTC on the server, you can use Laravel's carbon library to format the datetime values before returning them in the JSON response. Here's an example of how to do this:

use Carbon\Carbon;

// In your controller method
public function getData()
{
    $query = MyModel::query();

    $data = Datatables::of($query)
        ->addColumn('created_at', function ($model) {
            return Carbon::parse($model->created_at)->format('Y-m-d H:i:s');
        })
        ->make(true);

    return $data;
}

In this example, we're using the Carbon library to parse the created_at datetime value and format it as a string in the 'Y-m-d H:i:s' format, which is the format that Datatables expects. We're then returning this formatted datetime value in the JSON response.

Option 2: Convert Datetimes to the Correct Timezone on the Client-Side

Another option is to convert the datetime values to the correct timezone on the client-side using Datatables. To do this, you can use Datatables' date function to format the datetime values. Here's an example of how to do this:

$(document).ready(function() {
    $('#example').DataTable({
        processing: true,
        serverSide: true,
        ajax: '{{ route('getData') }}',
        columns: [
            { data: 'id', name: 'id' },
            { data: 'name' },
            { data: 'created_at', name: 'created_at' },
            {
                data: 'created_at',
                name: 'created_at',
                render: function ( data, type, row ) {
                    return moment(data).format('LLL');
                }
            }
        ]
    });
});

In this example, we're using Datatables' moment library to format the created_at datetime value to the desired timezone and format. We're then returning this formatted datetime value in the render function, which will be used to display the datetime value in the table.

Conclusion

When using Yajra Datatables with server-side processing, it's important to ensure that datetime values are displayed correctly. You can do this by converting datetime values to UTC on the server before returning them in the JSON response, or by converting datetime values to the correct timezone on the client-side using Datatables. By following the steps outlined in this answer, you should be able to display datetime values correctly in your Yajra Datatables table.