- var_dump: documentation ( source)
<?php
$ref_date = '250314'; // $ref_date is picked up from an array
echo $ref_date; // prints "250314" so data is correct
$date = DateTime::createFromFormat('dmy', $ref_date);
var_dump($date); // result FALSE
echo $date->format('Y-m-d'); // Fatal error since $date not created