20241217T1630000100

20241217T1630000100 is a compact timestamp-like string that encodes a specific date and time with sub-second precision. It is commonly interpreted as year 2024, month 12, day 17, time 16:30:00, and a fractional component of 0100, which represents 0.0100 seconds (10 milliseconds).

In terms of a standard representation, the equivalent ISO 8601 form would be 2024-12-17T16:30:00.0100. The string uses fixed positions to convey year, month, day, hour, minute, second, and a four-digit fractional second field. It does not inherently include a time zone, so the intended zone must be specified separately or assumed by the context in which it appears.

Typical uses for this kind of timestamp include data interchange, log entries, and fixed-width record formats where a compact, lexicographically sortable date-time value is advantageous. The fixed width facilitates straightforward parsing in systems that process large volumes of records or require alignment with other fields in a record.

Caveats and considerations include the absence of a stated time zone, which means the timestamp could represent local time or a system-wide standard such as UTC depending on the application. The last four digits are a sub-second fraction, but interpretation can vary if different conventions are used in various software ecosystems. Therefore, when encountering this string, it is important to consult the relevant data specification to confirm the exact meaning of the fractional portion and any timezone assumptions.

See also: ISO 8601, fixed-width timestamps, lexical sortability, timestamp formats.