PHP show date2 if date1 passed - php

Question

I need help on this..
I am new in php and dummy..
$displaydate = "";
$paydate1 = "23-10-2016";
$paydate2 = "23-11-2016";
$paydate3 = "23-12-2016";
$paydate4 = "23-01-2017";
$paydate5 = "23-02-2017";
$paydate6 = "23-03-2017";
if todaydate is 23-10-2016 then $displaydate = "$paydate2" until 22-11-2016. When 23-11-2016 then $displaydate = "$paydate3" and so on.
then results
if the date is 23-10-2016 until 22-11-2016 $displaydate = "$paydate2"
if the date is 23-11-2016 until 22-12-2016 $displaydate = "$paydate3"
if the date is 23-12-2016 until 22-01-2016 $displaydate = "$paydate4"
if the date is 23-01-2016 until 22-02-2016 $displaydate = "$paydate5"
if the date is 23-02-2016 until 22-03-2016 $displaydate = "$paydate6"
please help with the code...
Thanks..
IM php DUMMY

Answer 1

Organize your data convenient so you can easy access it.
Put your paydates it an array:
$paydate = ["23-10-2016","23-11-2016","23-12-2016","23-01-2017","23-02-2017","23-03-2017"];
UPDATED per your comment:
$payout1 = $this->data->paymentdate1;
$payout2 = $this->data->paymentdate2;
$payout3 = $this->data->paymentdate3;
$payout4 = $this->data->paymentdate4;
$payout5 = $this->data->paymentdate5;
$payout6 = $this->data->paymentdate6;
$paydate = [$payout1,$payout2,$payout3,$payout4,$payout5,$pa‌​yout6];
Transform the dates in an easy to sort format:
function trf_date($date)
{
return date('Y-m-d', strtotime($date));
}
$paydate = array_map("trf_date", $paydate );
Sort the array to be sure we will get the dates in ascending order while looping.
sort($paydate);
Now loop through the array to find the first date higher then today:
foreach($paydate as $key=>$val){
if($val > date('Y-m-d'))
break;
}
$displaydate = ''; //initialize the output variable
//check to see if the last retrieved date meets the condition not to be in the past.
//this is for the case all dates in the array are in the past
if(isset($paydate[$key]) && $paydate[$key] > date('Y-m-d'))
$displaydate = $paydate[$key];