How to convert output of var_dump to array or variable?

Question

I am trying to take difference of two time. I have used diff function for that and now I want to transfer output of var_dump to array or variable so that I am able to print remaining time. My code is written below. How to retrieve below output to array or variable?

$val1 = '2014-03-18 10:34:09';

$var2 = date("Y-m-d H:i:s");

$datetime1 = new DateTime($val1);

$datetime2 = new DateTime($val2);

var_dump($datetime1->diff($datetime2));

My output is show below

object(DateInterval)#3 (8) {

  ["y"]=>
  int(0)

  ["m"]=>
  int(11)

  ["d"]=>
  int(1)

  ["h"]=>
  int(6)

  ["i"]=>
  int(17)

  ["s"]=>
  int(23)

  ["invert"]=>
  int(0)

  ["days"]=>
  int(338)

}

Answer 1

Simply you have to write following it will return array.

$data = $datetime1->diff($datetime2);  //Return Object
$data = (array) $datetime1->diff($datetime2);  //Return Array

Object Output

$data->y = 0  //year
$data->m = 11 //month 
$data->d = 1  //day
$data->h = 1  //hour
$data->i = 8  //minute
$data->s = 33 //second

Array Output

$data['y'] = 0  //year
$data['m'] = 11 //month 
$data['d'] = 1  //day
$data['h'] = 1  //hour
$data['i'] = 8  //minute
$data['s'] = 33 //second

Demo