QTimeZone Class | Qt Core 6.4.3

- Qt 6.4
- Qt Core
- C++ Classes
- QTimeZone
- Qt 6.4.3 Reference Documentation

# QTimeZone Class

The QTimeZone class converts between UTC and local time in a specific time zone. More...

Header: | #include <QTimeZone>
CMake: | find_package(Qt6 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Core) target_link_libraries(mytarget PRIVATE Qt6::Core)
qmake: | QT += core
Since: | Qt 5.2

- List of all members, including inherited members
- Deprecated members

Note: All functions in this class are thread-safe.

## Public Types

struct | OffsetData
enum | NameType { DefaultName, LongName, ShortName, OffsetName }
| OffsetDataList
enum | TimeType { StandardTime, DaylightTime, GenericTime }

## Public Functions

| QTimeZone(const QTimeZone &other)
| QTimeZone(const QByteArray &ianaId, int offsetSeconds, const QString &name, const QString &abbreviation, QLocale::Territory territory = QLocale::AnyTerritory, const QString &comment = QString())
| QTimeZone(int offsetSeconds)
| QTimeZone(const QByteArray &ianaId)
| QTimeZone()
QTimeZone & | operator=(QTimeZone &&other)
QTimeZone & | operator=(const QTimeZone &other)
| ~QTimeZone()
QString | abbreviation(const QDateTime &atDateTime) const
QString | comment() const
int | daylightTimeOffset(const QDateTime &atDateTime) const
QString | displayName(const QDateTime &atDateTime, QTimeZone::NameType nameType = QTimeZone::DefaultName, const QLocale &locale = QLocale()) const
QString | displayName(QTimeZone::TimeType timeType, QTimeZone::NameType nameType = QTimeZone::DefaultName, const QLocale &locale = QLocale()) const
bool | hasDaylightTime() const
bool | hasTransitions() const
QByteArray | id() const
bool | isDaylightTime(const QDateTime &atDateTime) const
bool | isValid() const
OffsetData | nextTransition(const QDateTime &afterDateTime) const
OffsetData | offsetData(const QDateTime &forDateTime) const
int | offsetFromUtc(const QDateTime &atDateTime) const
OffsetData | previousTransition(const QDateTime &beforeDateTime) const
int | standardTimeOffset(const QDateTime &atDateTime) const
void | swap(QTimeZone &other)
QLocale::Territory | territory() const
CFTimeZoneRef | toCFTimeZone() const
NSTimeZone * | toNSTimeZone() const
OffsetDataList | transitions(const QDateTime &fromDateTime, const QDateTime &toDateTime) const
bool | operator!=(const QTimeZone &other) const
bool | operator==(const QTimeZone &other) const

## Static Public Members

QList<QByteArray> | availableTimeZoneIds()
QList<QByteArray> | availableTimeZoneIds(QLocale::Territory territory)
QList<QByteArray> | availableTimeZoneIds(int offsetSeconds)
QTimeZone | fromCFTimeZone(CFTimeZoneRef timeZone)
QTimeZone | fromNSTimeZone(const NSTimeZone *timeZone)
QTimeZone | fromStdTimeZonePtr(const int *timeZone)
QByteArray | ianaIdToWindowsId(const QByteArray &ianaId)
bool | isTimeZoneIdAvailable(const QByteArray &ianaId)
QTimeZone | systemTimeZone()
QByteArray | systemTimeZoneId()
QTimeZone | utc()
QByteArray | windowsIdToDefaultIanaId(const QByteArray &windowsId)
QByteArray | windowsIdToDefaultIanaId(const QByteArray &windowsId, QLocale::Territory territory)
QList<QByteArray> | windowsIdToIanaIds(const QByteArray &windowsId)
QList<QByteArray> | windowsIdToIanaIds(const QByteArray &windowsId, QLocale::Territory territory)

## Detailed Description

This class provides a stateless calculator for time zone conversions between UTC and the local time in a specific time zone. By default it uses the host system time zone data to perform these conversions.

This class is primarily designed for use in QDateTime; most applications will not need to access this class directly and should instead use QDateTime with a Qt::TimeSpec of Qt::TimeZone.

Note: For consistency with QDateTime, QTimeZone does not account for leap seconds.

### Remarks

#### IANA Time Zone IDs

QTimeZone uses the IANA time zone IDs as defined in the IANA Time Zone Database (http://www.iana.org/time-zones). This is to ensure a standard ID across all supported platforms. Most platforms support the IANA IDs and the IANA Database natively, but for Windows a mapping is required to the native IDs. See below for more details.

The IANA IDs can and do change on a regular basis, and can vary depending on how recently the host system data was updated. As such you cannot rely on any given ID existing on any host system. You must use availableTimeZoneIds() to determine what IANA IDs are available.

The IANA IDs and database are also know as the Olson IDs and database, named after their creator.

#### UTC Offset Time Zones

A default UTC time zone backend is provided which is always guaranteed to be available. This provides a set of generic Offset From UTC time zones in the range UTC-14:00 to UTC+14:00. These time zones can be created using either the standard ISO format names "UTC+00:00" as listed by availableTimeZoneIds(), or using the number of offset seconds.

#### Windows Time Zones

Windows native time zone support is severely limited compared to the standard IANA TZ Database. Windows time zones cover larger geographic areas and are thus less accurate in their conversions. They also do not support as much historical data and so may only be accurate for the current year. In particular, when MS's zone data claims that DST was observed prior to 1900 (this is historically known to be untrue), the claim is ignored and the standard time (allegedly) in force in 1900 is taken to have always been in effect.

QTimeZone uses a conversion table derived from the Unicode CLDR data to map between IANA IDs and Windows IDs. Depending on your version of Windows and Qt, this table may not be able to provide a valid conversion, in which "UTC" will be returned.

QTimeZone provides a public API to use this conversion table. The Windows ID used is the Windows Registry Key for the time zone which is also the MS Exchange EWS ID as well, but is different to the Time Zone Name (TZID) and COD code used by MS Exchange in versions before 2007.

#### System Time Zone

The method systemTimeZoneId() returns the current system IANA time zone ID which on Unix-like systems will always be correct. On Windows this ID is translated from the Windows system ID using an internal translation table and the user's selected country. As a consequence there is a small chance any Windows install may have IDs not known by Qt, in which case "UTC" will be returned.

Creating a new QTimeZone instance using the system time zone ID will only produce a fixed named copy of the time zone, it will not change if the system time zone changes. QTimeZone::systemTimeZone() will return an instance representing the zone named by this system ID. Note that constructing a QDateTime using this system zone may behave differently than constructing a QDateTime that uses Qt::LocalTime as its Qt::TimeSpec, as the latter directly uses system APIs for accessing local time information, which may behave differently (and, in particular, might adapt if the user adjusts the system zone setting).

#### Time Zone Offsets

The difference between UTC and the local time in a time zone is expressed as an offset in seconds from UTC, i.e. the number of seconds to add to UTC to obtain the local time. The total offset is comprised of two component parts, the standard time offset and the daylight-saving time offset. The standard time offset is the number of seconds to add to UTC to obtain standard time in the time zone. The daylight-saving time offset is the number of seconds to add to the standard time offset to obtain daylight-saving time (abbreviated DST and sometimes called "daylight time" or "summer time") in the time zone. The usual case for DST (using standard time in winter, DST in summer) has a positive daylight-saving time offset. However, some zones have negative DST offsets, used in winter, with summer using standard time.

Note that the standard and DST offsets for a time zone may change over time as countries have changed DST laws or even their standard time offset.

#### License

This class includes data obtained from the CLDR data files under the terms of the Unicode Data Files and Software License. See Unicode Common Locale Data Repository (CLDR) for details.

See also QDateTime and QCalendar.

## Member Type Documentation

### enum QTimeZone::NameType

The type of time zone name.

Constant | Value | Description
--- | --- | ---
`QTimeZone::DefaultName` | `0` | The default form of the time zone name, e.g. LongName, ShortName or OffsetName
`QTimeZone::LongName` | `1` | The long form of the time zone name, e.g. "Central European Time"
`QTimeZone::ShortName` | `2` | The short form of the time zone name, usually an abbreviation, e.g. "CET"
`QTimeZone::OffsetName` | `3` | The standard ISO offset form of the time zone name, e.g. "UTC+01:00"

### QTimeZone::OffsetDataList

Synonym for QList<OffsetData>.

### enum QTimeZone::TimeType

The type of time zone time, for example when requesting the name. In time zones that do not apply DST, all three values may return the same result.

Constant | Value | Description
--- | --- | ---
`QTimeZone::StandardTime` | `0` | The standard time in a time zone, i.e. when Daylight-Saving is not in effect. For example when formatting a display name this will show something like "Pacific Standard Time".
`QTimeZone::DaylightTime` | `1` | A time when Daylight-Saving is in effect. For example when formatting a display name this will show something like "Pacific daylight-saving time".
`QTimeZone::GenericTime` | `2` | A time which is not specifically Standard or Daylight-Saving time, either an unknown time or a neutral form. For example when formatting a display name this will show something like "Pacific Time".

## Member Function Documentation

### QTimeZone::QTimeZone(const QTimeZone &other)

Copy constructor, copy other to this.

### QTimeZone::QTimeZone(const QByteArray &ianaId, int offsetSeconds, const QString &name, const QString &abbreviation, QLocale::Territory territory = QLocale::AnyTerritory, const QString &comment = QString())

Creates a custom time zone with an ID of ianaId and an offset from UTC of offsetSeconds. The name will be the name used by displayName() for the LongName, the abbreviation will be used by displayName() for the ShortName and by abbreviation(), and the optional territory will be used by territory(). The comment is an optional note that may be displayed in a GUI to assist users in selecting a time zone.

The ianaId must not be one of the available system IDs returned by availableTimeZoneIds(). The offsetSeconds from UTC must be in the range -14 hours to +14 hours.

If the custom time zone does not have a specific territory then set it to the default value of QLocale::AnyTerritory.

### QTimeZone::QTimeZone(int offsetSeconds)

Creates an instance of a time zone with the requested Offset from UTC of offsetSeconds.

The offsetSeconds from UTC must be in the range -14 hours to +14 hours otherwise an invalid time zone will be returned.

### QTimeZone::QTimeZone(const QByteArray &ianaId)

Creates an instance of the requested time zone ianaId.

The ID must be one of the available system IDs or a valid UTC-with-offset ID, otherwise an invalid time zone will be returned.

See also availableTimeZoneIds().

### QTimeZone::QTimeZone()

Create a null/invalid time zone instance.

### QTimeZone &QTimeZone::operator=(QTimeZone &&other)

Move-assigns other to this QTimeZone instance, transferring the ownership of the managed pointer to this instance.

### QTimeZone &QTimeZone::operator=(const QTimeZone &other)

Assignment operator, assign other to this.

### QTimeZone::~QTimeZone()

Destroys the time zone.

### QString QTimeZone::abbreviation(const QDateTime &atDateTime) const

Returns the time zone abbreviation at the given atDateTime. The abbreviation may change depending on DST or even historical events.

Note that the abbreviation is not guaranteed to be unique to this time zone and should not be used in place of the ID or display name.

See also displayName().

### `[static]` QList<QByteArray> QTimeZone::availableTimeZoneIds()

Returns a list of all available IANA time zone IDs on this system.

See also isTimeZoneIdAvailable().

### `[static]` QList<QByteArray> QTimeZone::availableTimeZoneIds(QLocale::Territory territory)

Returns a list of all available IANA time zone IDs for a given territory.

As a special case, a territory of Qt::AnyTerritory returns those time zones that do not have any territory related to them, such as UTC. If you require a list of all time zone IDs for all countries then use the standard availableTimeZoneIds() method.

See also isTimeZoneIdAvailable().

### `[static]` QList<QByteArray> QTimeZone::availableTimeZoneIds(int offsetSeconds)

Returns a list of all available IANA time zone IDs with a given standard time offset of offsetSeconds.

See also isTimeZoneIdAvailable().

### QString QTimeZone::comment() const

Returns any comment for the time zone.

A comment may be provided by the host platform to assist users in choosing the correct time zone. Depending on the platform this may not be localized.

### int QTimeZone::daylightTimeOffset(const QDateTime &atDateTime) const

Returns the daylight-saving time offset at the given atDateTime, i.e. the number of seconds to add to the standard time offset to obtain the local daylight-saving time.

For example, for the time zone "Europe/Berlin" the DST offset is +3600 seconds. During standard time daylightTimeOffset() will return 0, and when daylight-saving is in effect it will return +3600.

See also offsetFromUtc() and standardTimeOffset().

### QString QTimeZone::displayName(const QDateTime &atDateTime, QTimeZone::NameType nameType = QTimeZone::DefaultName, const QLocale &locale = QLocale()) const

Returns the localized time zone display name at the given atDateTime for the given nameType in the given locale. The nameType and locale requested may not be supported on all platforms, in which case the best available option will be returned.

If the locale is not provided then the application default locale will be used.

The display name may change depending on DST or historical events.

See also abbreviation().

### QString QTimeZone::displayName(QTimeZone::TimeType timeType, QTimeZone::NameType nameType = QTimeZone::DefaultName, const QLocale &locale = QLocale()) const

Returns the localized time zone display name for the given timeType and nameType in the given locale. The nameType and locale requested may not be supported on all platforms, in which case the best available option will be returned.

If the locale is not provided then the application default locale will be used.

Where the time zone display names have changed over time then the most recent names will be used.

See also abbreviation().

### `[static, since 5.9]` QTimeZone QTimeZone::fromCFTimeZone(CFTimeZoneRef timeZone)

Constructs a new QTimeZone containing a copy of the CFTimeZone timeZone.

This function was introduced in Qt 5.9.

See also toCFTimeZone().

### `[static, since 5.9]` QTimeZone QTimeZone::fromNSTimeZone(const NSTimeZone *timeZone)

Constructs a new QTimeZone containing a copy of the NSTimeZone timeZone.

This function was introduced in Qt 5.9.

See also toNSTimeZone().

### `[static, since 6.4]` QTimeZone QTimeZone::fromStdTimeZonePtr(const int *timeZone)

Returns a QTimeZone object representing the same time zone as timeZone. The IANA ID of timeZone must be one of the available system IDs, otherwise an invalid time zone will be returned.

This function was introduced in Qt 6.4.

### bool QTimeZone::hasDaylightTime() const

Returns `true` if the time zone has practiced daylight-saving at any time.

See also isDaylightTime() and daylightTimeOffset().

### bool QTimeZone::hasTransitions() const

Returns `true` if the system backend supports obtaining transitions.

Transitions are changes in the time-zone: these happen when DST turns on or off and when authorities alter the offsets for the time-zone.

See also nextTransition(), previousTransition(), and transitions().

### `[static]` QByteArray QTimeZone::ianaIdToWindowsId(const QByteArray &ianaId)

Returns the Windows ID equivalent to the given ianaId.

See also windowsIdToDefaultIanaId() and windowsIdToIanaIds().

### QByteArray QTimeZone::id() const

Returns the IANA ID for the time zone.

IANA IDs are used on all platforms. On Windows these are translated from the Windows ID into the closest IANA ID for the time zone and territory.

### bool QTimeZone::isDaylightTime(const QDateTime &atDateTime) const

Returns `true` if daylight-saving was in effect at the given atDateTime.

See also hasDaylightTime() and daylightTimeOffset().

### `[static]` bool QTimeZone::isTimeZoneIdAvailable(const QByteArray &ianaId)

Returns `true` if a given time zone ianaId is available on this system.

See also availableTimeZoneIds().

### bool QTimeZone::isValid() const

Returns `true` if this time zone is valid.

### OffsetData QTimeZone::nextTransition(const QDateTime &afterDateTime) const

Returns the first time zone Transition after the given afterDateTime. This is most useful when you have a Transition time and wish to find the Transition after it.

If there is no transition after the given afterDateTime then an invalid OffsetData will be returned with an invalid QDateTime.

The given afterDateTime is exclusive.

See also hasTransitions(), previousTransition(), and transitions().

### OffsetData QTimeZone::offsetData(const QDateTime &forDateTime) const

Returns the effective offset details at the given forDateTime. This is the equivalent of calling offsetFromUtc(), abbreviation(), etc individually but is more efficient.

See also offsetFromUtc(), standardTimeOffset(), daylightTimeOffset(), and abbreviation().

### int QTimeZone::offsetFromUtc(const QDateTime &atDateTime) const

Returns the total effective offset at the given atDateTime, i.e. the number of seconds to add to UTC to obtain the local time. This includes any DST offset that may be in effect, i.e. it is the sum of standardTimeOffset() and daylightTimeOffset() for the given datetime.

For example, for the time zone "Europe/Berlin" the standard time offset is +3600 seconds and the DST offset is +3600 seconds. During standard time offsetFromUtc() will return +3600 (UTC+01:00), and during DST it will return +7200 (UTC+02:00).

See also standardTimeOffset() and daylightTimeOffset().

### OffsetData QTimeZone::previousTransition(const QDateTime &beforeDateTime) const

Returns the first time zone Transition before the given beforeDateTime. This is most useful when you have a Transition time and wish to find the Transition before it.

If there is no transition before the given beforeDateTime then an invalid OffsetData will be returned with an invalid QDateTime.

The given beforeDateTime is exclusive.

See also hasTransitions(), nextTransition(), and transitions().

### int QTimeZone::standardTimeOffset(const QDateTime &atDateTime) const

Returns the standard time offset at the given atDateTime, i.e. the number of seconds to add to UTC to obtain the local Standard Time. This excludes any DST offset that may be in effect.

For example, for the time zone "Europe/Berlin" the standard time offset is +3600 seconds. During both standard and DST offsetFromUtc() will return +3600 (UTC+01:00).

See also offsetFromUtc() and daylightTimeOffset().

### void QTimeZone::swap(QTimeZone &other)

Swaps this time zone instance with other. This function is very fast and never fails.

### `[static, since 5.5]` QTimeZone QTimeZone::systemTimeZone()

Returns a QTimeZone object that refers to the local system time, as specified by systemTimeZoneId().

This function was introduced in Qt 5.5.

See also utc().

### `[static]` QByteArray QTimeZone::systemTimeZoneId()

Returns the current system time zone IANA ID.

On Windows this ID is translated from the Windows ID using an internal translation table and the user's selected country. As a consequence there is a small chance any Windows install may have IDs not known by Qt, in which case "UTC" will be returned.

### `[since 6.2]` QLocale::Territory QTimeZone::territory() const

Returns the territory for the time zone.

This function was introduced in Qt 6.2.

### `[since 5.9]` CFTimeZoneRef QTimeZone::toCFTimeZone() const

Creates a CFTimeZone from a QTimeZone.

The caller owns the CFTimeZone object and is responsible for releasing it.

This function was introduced in Qt 5.9.

See also fromCFTimeZone().

### `[since 5.9]` NSTimeZone *QTimeZone::toNSTimeZone() const

Creates an NSTimeZone from a QTimeZone.

The NSTimeZone object is autoreleased.

This function was introduced in Qt 5.9.

See also fromNSTimeZone().

### OffsetDataList QTimeZone::transitions(const QDateTime &fromDateTime, const QDateTime &toDateTime) const

Returns a list of all time zone transitions between the given datetimes.

The given fromDateTime and toDateTime are inclusive.

See also hasTransitions(), nextTransition(), and previousTransition().

### `[static, since 5.5]` QTimeZone QTimeZone::utc()

Returns a QTimeZone object that refers to UTC (Universal Time Coordinated).

This function was introduced in Qt 5.5.

See also systemTimeZone().

### `[static]` QByteArray QTimeZone::windowsIdToDefaultIanaId(const QByteArray &windowsId)

Returns the default IANA ID for a given windowsId.

Because a Windows ID can cover several IANA IDs in several different countries, this function returns the most frequently used IANA ID with no regard for the country and should thus be used with care. It is usually best to request the default for a specific country.

See also ianaIdToWindowsId() and windowsIdToIanaIds().

### `[static]` QByteArray QTimeZone::windowsIdToDefaultIanaId(const QByteArray &windowsId, QLocale::Territory territory)

Returns the default IANA ID for a given windowsId and territory.

Because a Windows ID can cover several IANA IDs within a given territory, the most frequently used IANA ID in that territory is returned.

As a special case, QLocale::AnyTerritory returns the default of those IANA IDs that do not have any specific territory.

See also ianaIdToWindowsId() and windowsIdToIanaIds().

### `[static]` QList<QByteArray> QTimeZone::windowsIdToIanaIds(const QByteArray &windowsId)

Returns all the IANA IDs for a given windowsId.

The returned list is sorted alphabetically.

See also ianaIdToWindowsId() and windowsIdToDefaultIanaId().

### `[static]` QList<QByteArray> QTimeZone::windowsIdToIanaIds(const QByteArray &windowsId, QLocale::Territory territory)

Returns all the IANA IDs for a given windowsId and territory.

As a special case QLocale::AnyTerritory returns those IANA IDs that do not have any specific territory.

The returned list is in order of frequency of usage, i.e. larger zones within a territory are listed first.

See also ianaIdToWindowsId() and windowsIdToDefaultIanaId().

### bool QTimeZone::operator!=(const QTimeZone &other) const

Returns `true` if this time zone is not equal to the other time zone.

### bool QTimeZone::operator==(const QTimeZone &other) const

Returns `true` if this time zone is equal to the other time zone.