Is it time to ditch daylight saving time - am I managing my dates and times correctly?

Currently, I am in the process of working on a PHP/mySQL web application where dates are stored as unix timestamps in columns that are UNSIGNED INT(10). When it comes to displaying these dates in the web view, we utilize moment.js to parse the numbers.

One of my colleagues expressed concerns about this method and instead suggested storing dates as "YYYY-MM-DD hh:mm:ss" VARCHARs. However, we have not encountered any issues with our current approach so far.

I recently came across news about the European Union's plans to abolish daylight saving time. I'm wondering if this change will have any impact on my web application considering how I am currently storing dates?

javascriptdatabasedatabase-designdst

Answer №1

Here are a few key points to consider:

  • Instead of storing dates and times as integers or varchars, MySQL provides standard data types like DATE, DATETIME, and TIMESTAMP. You can learn more about these types in the MySQL documentation.

  • The choice of how to store dates and times should be based on the specific context. While some suggest always using UTC, it's important to consider the meaning behind the date and time being stored. For example:

    • A Unix Timestamp is tied to UTC and is ideal for representing past or present events. In MySQL, the TIMESTAMP type aligns well with this concept.

    • If you're storing future event times, local date and time become more significant. This would typically be stored in a DATETIME field, along with a corresponding time zone identifier (e.g., America/New_York). When dealing with multiple time zones, understanding DST requires considering the rules associated with that specific time zone.

    • For whole dates like birthdays or specific calendar days, utilizing the DATE type without a time component is appropriate. In these cases, DST does not play a significant role beyond determining which day a particular point in time falls within.

  • The question of EU DST abolition and its impact on time zone data implementation is complex. Further insights on this matter can be found in this helpful explanation regarding the IANA time zone database and the current situation in the EU.

Answer №2

In my opinion, it shouldn't make a difference. Personally, I store dates as UNIX timestamps too, and if you're using a method like:

getSecondsSinceEpoch = ((date) => Math.floor(date.getTime()/1000));

(or any other function that utilizes Date.prototype.getTime()), then you are storing a universal date that is independent of timezones. This can be beneficial because regardless of the user's timezone when they log in, you will not be returning values based on where they were previously located. The same principle applies when Daylight Savings Time alters the clock in their region (or remains constant after being abolished).

To display the correct human-readable date string for the user's specific location, Javascript uses a timezoneOffset, which determines how many time zones away the browser is from London at that moment (in minutes instead of hours, and adjusted for Daylight Savings Time). Presumably, the user's device and browser should update accordingly to reflect this change, ensuring your script behaves correctly. (If the user's device has the wrong timezone set, it may lead to issues not just with your app but with others until resolved).

While I am not an expert in this area, based on my current knowledge, I believe your approach should work fine. If there are inaccuracies in my explanation, I hope someone more knowledgeable will provide clarification soon.

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