the_modified_date( string $format = '', string $before = '', string $after = '', bool $echo = true )

Display the date on which the post was last modified.

Parameters

$format

(string) (Optional) PHP date format. Defaults to the 'date_format' option.

Default value: ''

$before

(string) (Optional) Output before the date.

Default value: ''

$after

(string) (Optional) Output after the date.

Default value: ''

$echo

(bool) (Optional) Whether to echo the date or return it.

Default value: true

Return

(string|void) String if retrieving.

More Information

This tag works just like the_modified_time(), which also displays the time/date a post was last modified. This tag must be used within The Loop. If no format parameter is specified, the Default date format (please note that says Date format) setting from Administration > Settings > General is used for the display format.

If the post or page is not yet modified, the modified date is the same as the creation date.

Use get_the_modified_date() to retrieve the value.

Source

File: wp-includes/general-template.php

function the_modified_date( $format = '', $before = '', $after = '', $echo = true ) {
	$the_modified_date = $before . get_the_modified_date( $format ) . $after;

	/**
	 * Filters the date a post was last modified for display.
	 *
	 * @since 2.1.0
	 *
	 * @param string|false $the_modified_date The last modified date or false if no post is found.
	 * @param string       $format            PHP date format.
	 * @param string       $before            HTML output before the date.
	 * @param string       $after             HTML output after the date.
	 */
	$the_modified_date = apply_filters( 'the_modified_date', $the_modified_date, $format, $before, $after );

	if ( $echo ) {
		echo $the_modified_date;
	} else {
		return $the_modified_date;
	}

}

Changelog

Version Description
2.1.0 Introduced.

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Licensed under the GNU GPLv2+ License.
https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/the_modified_date