为什么在if语句中使用PHP打印变量？

Question

I am trying to print PUBLISHED date or UPDATED date if post has been updated

Here is my php if statement

<?php 
$u_time = the_time('U'); 
$u_modified_time = the_modified_time('U'); 
if ($u_modified_time > $u_time) { 
echo "[UPDATED] "; the_modified_time('F j, Y'); echo " at "; the_modified_time(); echo " EST";} 
else {
echo "[PUBLISHED] "; the_time('M jS Y'); echo " at "; the_time(); echo " EST"; }
?>

and here is what is printed

15479814021547981405[PUBLISHED] Jan 20th 2019 at 10:50 am EST

but this is what am expecting

[PUBLISHED] Jan 20th 2019 at 10:50 am EST

Not sure why this 15479814021547981405 part is being printed out

What do i do to take that part out?

Thanks

Answer 1

Here is what worked for the logic of showing updated post date and time if post is updated and if not just show published date and time for WORDPRESS

<?php $u_time = get_the_time('U'); 
$u_modified_time = get_the_modified_time('U'); 
if ($u_modified_time >= $u_time + 86400) { 
echo " [UPDATED] "; 
the_modified_time('F j, Y'); 
echo " at "; 
the_modified_time(); }
else {
echo get_the_date(); echo " at ";  echo the_modified_time(); echo " EST";
}
?>

So anyone looking to implement this on their wordpress website. go for it!!! Solved it myself after hours of back and forth