Examples

Let's look at some examples of time zones.

Eastern time
The default time zone is Eastern time; the short specification is:
EST5EDT
  

The full specification is:

EST5EDT4,M3.2.0/02:00:00,M11.1.0/02:00:00
  

Both are interpreted as follows:

  • Eastern Standard Time is 5 hours earlier than Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Standard time and daylight saving time both apply to this locale.
  • By default, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is one hour ahead of standard time (i.e., EDT4).
  • Daylight saving time starts on the second (2) Sunday (0) of March (3) at 2:00 A.M. and ends on the first (1) Sunday (0) of November (11) at 2:00 A.M.
Pacific time
The short specification for Pacific time is:
PST8PDT
  

The full specification is:

PST08PDT07,M3.2.0/2,M11.1.0/2
  

Both are interpreted as follows:

  • Pacific Standard Time is 8 hours earlier than Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
  • Standard time and daylight saving time both apply to this locale.
  • By default, Pacific Daylight Time is one hour ahead of standard time (that is, PDT7).
  • Daylight saving time starts on the second (2) Sunday (0) of March (3) at 2:00 A.M. and ends on the first (1) Sunday (0) of November (11) at 2:00 A.M.
Newfoundland time
The short specification for Newfoundland time is:
NST3:30NDT2:30
  

The full specification is:

NST03:30NDT02:30,M3.2.0/00:01,M11.1.0/00:01
  

Both are interpreted as follows:

  • Newfoundland Standard Time is 3.5 hours earlier than Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
  • Standard time and daylight saving time both apply to this locale.
  • Newfoundland Daylight Time is 2.5 hours earlier than Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
  • Daylight saving time starts on the second (2) Sunday (0) of March (3) at 12:01:00 A.M. and ends on the first (1) Sunday (0) of November (11) at 12:01:00 A.M.
Central European time
The specification for Central European time is:
Central Europe Time-2:00
  
  • Central European Time is 2 hours later than Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
  • Daylight saving time doesn't apply in this locale.
Japanese time
The specification for Japanese time is:
JST-9
  
  • Japanese Standard Time is 9 hours earlier than Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
  • Daylight saving time doesn't apply in this locale.