Generate MySQL Datetime Type Using PHP Date() Function

If you want to insert a datetime that matches the default mysql datetime type format use this

date('Y-m-d H:i:s');

Custom Date Formats for Your Rails Application

If you use a consistent date format often in your Rails applciation, it is worth it to add the format to your application environment. You can do this by adding  it to the bottom of the config/environment.rb file.

Time::DATE_FORMATS[:my_custom_format] = "%A %B %d, %Y"

Now you can use it in your views like this

@post.created_at.to_s(:my_custom_format)

Which will output something like Monday May 5, 2009