UTC Converter
What UTC actually is
Coordinated Universal Time is the reference every other time zone in the world is defined against. It’s kept by a global network of atomic clocks, and — critically — it never shifts for daylight saving, which is exactly why it’s the standard for logs, flight schedules, and anything that has to mean the same instant in more than one country.
The specific difference from GMT
GMT is a time zone, still used by the UK through the winter months. UTC is a time standard that zones are measured against. In Britain the two line up in winter and part ways by an hour each summer, when the country moves to British Summer Time but people often keep saying ‘GMT’ out of habit — which is technically wrong by an hour for that half of the year.
Questions people ask
Is UTC exactly the same as GMT?
Not quite. They coincide in the northern winter, but UTC never shifts while GMT is the specific zone Britain leaves each spring for British Summer Time.
What is a leap second, and does UTC still use them?
An occasional extra second inserted to keep UTC in step with the Earth’s very slightly irregular rotation. Twenty-seven have been added since 1972, though the practice is due to be phased out by 2035.