The IANA Time Zone Database: What It Is and Why It Matters
The IANA Time Zone Database
The IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) Time Zone Database, also known as the tz database or zoneinfo, is the most widely used timezone reference in computing.
What Is It?
The tz database contains the history of local time for many representative locations around the globe. It is updated regularly to reflect changes in timezone rules made by governments.
IANA Timezone Names
IANA uses the format "Area/Location", for example:
- America/New_York
- Europe/London
- Asia/Tokyo
- Australia/Sydney
Why Use IANA Names?
- Unambiguous: "EST" could mean Eastern US or Eastern Australia
- DST-aware: The database knows when DST transitions occur
- Historical accuracy: Contains historical timezone data
- Widely supported: Used by all major operating systems and programming languages
How MeetZone Uses IANA Data
MeetZone uses IANA timezone identifiers to ensure accurate conversions, including proper handling of DST transitions throughout the year.