tidszonsdatabaser

Tidszonsdatabaser, also known as time zone databases, are curated collections of information about the world's time zones. These databases are crucial for applications and systems that need to accurately track and display time across different geographical locations. They typically store data such as the name of a time zone, its offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), and historical changes in these offsets due to daylight saving time (DST) rules.

The most widely recognized and used time zone database is the tz database, also known as the Olson database or IANA time zone database. Developed and maintained by volunteers, it is considered the de facto standard. The tz database contains rules for historical and future time zone changes, including adjustments for political decisions, DST implementations, and calendar shifts. This historical data is vital for accurately calculating past time stamps.

The information within a time zone database is structured to allow software to determine the correct local time for any given point in history and for any location on Earth. This involves understanding not only the standard offset from UTC but also the specific rules for when DST begins and ends, and how those rules have changed over time. Without accurate time zone databases, applications like calendars, scheduling software, and network protocols would struggle to function correctly, leading to significant errors in timekeeping. Regular updates to these databases are essential to reflect ongoing changes in time zone regulations worldwide.