Online PHP editor | output for ZXpRO

<?php $data = [ [ 'ID' => 16, 'begin_date' => new \DateTime('2016-01-01 UTC'), 'end_date' => new \DateTime('2016-11-30 UTC'), ], [ 'ID' => 33, 'begin_date' => new \DateTime('2016-01-04 UTC'), 'end_date' => new \DateTime('2016-02-29 UTC'), ], ]; // assume length >= 1 w/ previous validation // keep track of the in-progress leading element, assuming the first is leading to begin with $currentLeading = $data[0]; foreach($data as $index => $element) { if($element['begin_date'] > now()) { // first condition is true if ($index == 0) { echo "Error: Element cannot be the leading element"; // more likely return false if wrapped in a validation function } if($element['end_date'] > now()) { if ($element['end_date'] > $currentLeading['end_date']) { $currentLeading = $element; } } } } var_dump($currentLeading);