Source

File: wp-includes/general-template.php

function get_the_date( $format = '', $post = null ) {
	$post = get_post( $post );

	if ( ! $post ) {
		return false;
	}

	$_format = ! empty( $format ) ? $format : get_option( 'date_format' );

	$the_date = get_post_time( $_format, false, $post, true );

	/**
	 * Filters the date a post was published.
	 *
	 * @since 3.0.0
	 *
	 * @param string      $the_date The formatted date.
	 * @param string      $format   PHP date format. Defaults to 'date_format' option
	 *                              if not specified.
	 * @param int|WP_Post $post     The post object or ID.
	 */
	return apply_filters( 'get_the_date', $the_date, $format, $post );
}