Time Zone (TZ)

A time zone is a region of the Earth where the same standard time is used.

A time zone is a geographical area that observes a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes. The Earth is divided into 24 primary time zones, each generally corresponding to 15 degrees of longitude, reflecting the Earth’s rotation and the division of the 24-hour day. The concept of time zones was established to standardise time across different regions, particularly as transportation and communication technologies advanced, making it necessary to coordinate schedules over long distances. Time zones are typically defined in relation to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), with each zone being a certain number of hours ahead or behind UTC. For example, UTC+1 means the time is one hour ahead of UTC. In some regions, time zones may shift during certain periods of the year due to daylight saving time, where clocks are adjusted forward or backward to make better use of daylight during the longer days of summer. Time zones are essential for synchronising activities such as international shipping, where vessels may traverse multiple time zones during a voyage. While time zones are primarily based on longitudinal divisions, political boundaries and local customs can also influence the exact demarcation of a time zone, leading to some irregularities.