Uhrzeitwert

Uhrzeitwert is a German term used in technical and data-processing contexts to denote the numerical value that represents a specific clock time. It is not a standardized concept with a single, universal definition; its exact meaning varies by domain. The word combines Uhrzeit (clock time) and Wert (value) and is often used to describe a field or variable in data models that encodes the moment of an event or the current time as a number rather than as a formatted time string.

In practice, a clock-time value can be encoded in several ways. Common forms include an integer representing hours, minutes and seconds (for example 134500 for 13:45:00), or a count of seconds since midnight. Some systems use alternative encodings such as a compact 24-hour representation or a Unix-like timestamp, though the latter is more typically referred to as a Zeitstempel or timestamp. The term Uhrzeitwert therefore often signals a numeric time representation used for indexing, sorting, scheduling or data logging, rather than a human-readable time format.

Usage contexts include database schemas, application programming interfaces, telemetry and event logging, or energy and transportation systems where decisions depend on the moment in time. For example, a data record might store an Uhrzeitwert to indicate when a measurement was taken or when a process should start.

Relation to other terms is important. Zeitwert in German can mean “time value” in a financial sense (the value attributed to an option or asset over time), which is different from Uhrzeitwert, a time-encoded numeric value. Uhrzeitwert is sometimes conflated with Zeitstempel, but Zeitstempel typically emphasizes the exact timestamp rather than its numeric encoding. See also Uhrzeit, Zeitwert, Zeitstempel.