If we're talking Apple devices, Focus mode is explicitly defined for that case, and allows fine-grained settings for specific sources to allow through, so you can still get, e.g. high-priority midnight calls from the family/lawyer/local comic book shop.

i don't understand why you're being downvoted, that's exactly what it is for. android users can use do not disturb as well.

People call you at night?!

Not so much calls but emails, text messages, amber alerts, local hysteria about the weather, etc.

Yes I could probably figure out how to selective silence the alerts for these various thing based on time of day and type of message etc. but life is too short for that, I just want one easy way to shut everything up.

I'm starting to think I'm in minority having Wi-Fi, data, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS et cetera turned off while not actively using them...

I have Bluetooth and Location turned off unless I'm using them.

I have do not disturb setup for nighttime hours - if I’m using the phone I’ll see texts but otherwise it won’t go through unless someone is on my approved list or doublecalls

i have friends on different timezones, and they talk in groups that are important to me, so i don't want to silence these groups. it's far easier to silence the whole phone for the night. airplane mode is an easy way to achieve that.

Perhaps, despite my age, I'm just an out-of-the-loop dinosaur, but I have no clue how does that work. Do phones nowadays have an option to dial multiple numbers to have a group phone call?

text messaging in chat groups. they still beep when a message appears in a group or at least when someone replies to a message i sent or mentions me. i have most groups on silent by default but some groups are important so for those i keep notifications on.

apart from that there are also voice group chats which on some apps start with a ring at least if i am explicitly invited. (though that usually doesn't happen when i am asleep)

Wouldn't simply muting the device be just as effective? (with the added bonus of being aware in the morning if somebody did actually try to reach out to you during the night)

You can even set the phone to automatically silence everything every night, but still let through phone calls from certain contacts in case of emergency.

Then you would be muting also alarms. You can configure complex setup and what not, with some sounds buzzing and some not, but people want one button solution and simplicity (for good reasons).

Just checked and the alarm still ringed despite phone being muted; at least on my phone, alarms need to be muted explicitly.