GMT Offsets and Time-Zone Names

An offset tells you the difference from a reference time at a particular instant. A time-zone identifier, such as America/Los_Angeles, describes a set of civil-time rules that can change with the date.

Why “Pacific Time” Is More Than One Number

The clock shows a named zone and the date’s GMT offset side by side. When applicable daylight-saving rules change the offset, the displayed abbreviation and offset change too. Do not assume that a single abbreviation, such as “IST,” identifies a unique location worldwide; choose a city.

Countries & Hemispheres Are Not Enough

A country can contain more than one time zone, and hemisphere alone does not identify the civil-time rule. TimeNow uses a city’s zone identifier, not a guess from east or west longitude. The map colors are decorative.

Open the date-aware converter or choose a city.

Source: IANA Time Zone Database. Catalog calculations use the bundled IANA 2026e rules with the upstream October 26 Cuba correction; other zones use browser rules.