What You Need to Know About World Time and Time Zones

In the modern world, as borders digitize, understanding the differences between time zones has become more important than ever. In this guide, you can learn how time zones were formed, the differences between UTC and GMT, and the tricks for global time tracking.

How are Time Zones Determined?

As the Earth rotates on its axis, sunlight does not reach every region at the same time. To solve this problem, the world is divided into 24 main time zones. Each zone theoretically covers 15-degree longitude intervals.

What is the Difference Between GMT and UTC?

GMT (Greenwich Mean Time): An older standard based on solar time passing through the Prime Meridian.
UTC (Coordinated Universal Time): The scientific and technological standard used today, based on atomic clocks. The time difference between GMT and UTC is less than a second, so they can be used interchangeably in daily life.

Why is Daylight Saving Time (DST) Practiced?

Daylight Saving Time is the practice of advancing clocks, usually by one hour in the spring and moving them back in the fall, to make better use of daylight. However, some countries, like Turkey, have made this practice permanent and stay in a fixed time zone throughout the year.

Important Time Zone Abbreviations

PST: Pacific Standard Time (US West Coast)
EST: Eastern Standard Time (US East Coast)
CET: Central European Time (Europe)
JST: Japan Standard Time (Japan)

Global Time Tracking with a Single Click

Manually calculating times in different cities can be confusing. Taking date changes (day hopping) into account especially increases the margin of error.

For accurate and up-to-date information, you can use our World Time Tool. Get the right time in seconds by selecting a city.

Tip: Reduce the Effect of Jet Lag

When traveling to different time zones, your body clock may have difficulty adjusting. Starting to accustom yourself to the destination's time 1-2 days before the trip will help you minimize the effect of Jet Lag.