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    What is UTC? – Coordinated Universal Time Explained

    04:32:35

    Monday, June 1, 2026 — UTC

    UTC stands for Coordinated Universal Time and is the world's primary time standard. UTC is based on highly precise atomic clocks and serves as the reference point for all time zones worldwide.

    What exactly is UTC?

    UTC is not a time zone per se, but a time standard. It is coordinated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and determined by atomic clocks at laboratories worldwide.

    UTC vs. GMT – What's the Difference?

    GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) is the mean solar time at the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, London. UTC is based on atomic clocks and therefore more precise. In practice, UTC and GMT are identical.

    How Do Time Zones Work with UTC?

    All time zones are defined as offsets from UTC. Central European Time (CET) is UTC+1, the US East Coast (EST) is UTC-5. There are over 38 different UTC offsets.

    Why is UTC Important?

    UTC is essential for international communication, aviation, satellite navigation (GPS), financial markets, server time synchronization, and scientific research.

    UTC Offsets of Major Cities

    LondonUTC+0 / UTC+1 (BST)
    Berlin / ParisUTC+1 / UTC+2 (MESZ)
    MoskauUTC+3
    DubaiUTC+4
    MumbaiUTC+5:30
    BangkokUTC+7
    Tokyo / SeoulUTC+9
    SydneyUTC+10 / UTC+11 (AEDT)
    New YorkUTC-5 / UTC-4 (EDT)
    Los AngelesUTC-8 / UTC-7 (PDT)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Answers to the most important questions about world time, time zones, calendars and astrology

    What time is it right now?+

    The current time is displayed in real-time at the top of this page – based on your local time zone.

    How does the time zone converter work?+

    Select two cities and the converter instantly shows the current time in both cities and the time difference.

    Is daylight saving time automatically considered?+

    Yes. All times are based on the IANA time zone database, which automatically handles DST changes worldwide.

    Which time zones are displayed?+

    World Clock shows times of major cities worldwide, including New York, London, Tokyo, Sydney, Dubai and more.

    Can I use the world clock for free?+

    Yes, World Clock is completely free – no registration or restrictions.

    What zodiac sign is today?+

    The current zodiac sign is automatically calculated based on today's date and displayed in the Today section.

    What is the Islamic calendar (Hijri)?+

    The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar with 12 months and about 354 days per year.

    What is the Chinese zodiac animal?+

    The Chinese zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle, with each year assigned an animal.

    What is the Julian Day Number?+

    The Julian Day is a continuous count of days since January 1, 4713 BC, used in astronomy.

    What is a Unix timestamp?+

    A Unix timestamp counts the seconds since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC.

    What moon phase is today?+

    The current moon phase is displayed based on astronomical calculations. The lunar cycle lasts about 29.5 days.

    What is the Hebrew calendar?+

    The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar that considers both lunar and solar cycles.

    How many time zones are there?+

    There are officially 24 main time zones, but in practice over 38 different UTC offsets exist.

    What is UTC and how does it differ from GMT?+

    UTC is the worldwide time standard based on atomic clocks. GMT is the mean solar time at the Prime Meridian. They are practically identical.

    Last Updated
    March 2026
    Accuracy
    Real-time via Intl API