retrieve the client's time zone based on browser information

Question

retrieve the client's time zone based on browser information

Is there a foolproof method for obtaining the timezone of a client's browser? I have come across some resources, but I am looking for a more reliable solution.

Automatically detect time zone using JavaScript

JavaScript-based timezone detection

javascript http browser timezone

Answer 1

Answer №1

After five years, we finally have a built-in solution! For up-to-date browsers, I recommend using:

const tz = Intl.DateTimeFormat().resolvedOptions().timeZone;
console.log(tz);

This will give you an IANA timezone string, but not the offset. Visit the MDN reference for more information.

Check compatibility table - as of March 2019, this method works for 90% of globally used browsers. However, it does not work on Internet Explorer.

Answer 2

After five years, we finally have a built-in solution! For up-to-date browsers, I recommend using:

const tz = Intl.DateTimeFormat().resolvedOptions().timeZone;
console.log(tz);

This will give you an IANA timezone string, but not the offset. Visit the MDN reference for more information.

Check compatibility table - as of March 2019, this method works for 90% of globally used browsers. However, it does not work on Internet Explorer.

Answer 3

Answer №2

When individuals are searching for information on "timezones," they often only need the "UTC offset." For example, if their server is in UTC+5 and they want to determine if their client is using UTC-8.

In traditional JavaScript, using

(new Date()).getTimezoneOffset()/60

will provide the current hour difference from UTC.

It's important to be aware of a potential issue regarding the sign of the getTimezoneOffset() return value as explained in the MDN documentation:

The time-zone offset represents the number of minutes between UTC and local time. The offset is positive if the local timezone is behind UTC and negative if it is ahead. For instance, in UTC+10:00 (Australian Eastern Standard Time, Vladivostok Time, Chamorro Standard Time), -600 would be returned.

However, I suggest utilizing day.js for any time/date-related JavaScript tasks. With day.js, you can obtain an ISO 8601 formatted UTC offset by executing:

> dayjs().format("Z")
"-08:00"

It's important to note that clients have the ability to manipulate this data easily.

(Please note: originally, this answer recommended https://momentjs.com/. However, day.js is considered a more contemporary and compact alternative.)

Answer 4

When individuals are searching for information on "timezones," they often only need the "UTC offset." For example, if their server is in UTC+5 and they want to determine if their client is using UTC-8.

In traditional JavaScript, using

(new Date()).getTimezoneOffset()/60

will provide the current hour difference from UTC.

It's important to be aware of a potential issue regarding the sign of the getTimezoneOffset() return value as explained in the MDN documentation:

The time-zone offset represents the number of minutes between UTC and local time. The offset is positive if the local timezone is behind UTC and negative if it is ahead. For instance, in UTC+10:00 (Australian Eastern Standard Time, Vladivostok Time, Chamorro Standard Time), -600 would be returned.

However, I suggest utilizing day.js for any time/date-related JavaScript tasks. With day.js, you can obtain an ISO 8601 formatted UTC offset by executing:

> dayjs().format("Z")
"-08:00"

It's important to note that clients have the ability to manipulate this data easily.

(Please note: originally, this answer recommended https://momentjs.com/. However, day.js is considered a more contemporary and compact alternative.)

Answer 5

Answer №3

Check out this amazing resource pageloom for helpful information

Simply download jstz.min.js and integrate a function into your HTML file

<script language="javascript>
    function fetchTimezone() {
        timezone = jstz.determine()
        return timezone.name();
    }
</script>

Then, make sure to call this function within your display tag

Answer 6

Check out this amazing resource pageloom for helpful information

Simply download jstz.min.js and integrate a function into your HTML file

<script language="javascript>
    function fetchTimezone() {
        timezone = jstz.determine()
        return timezone.name();
    }
</script>

Then, make sure to call this function within your display tag

Answer 7

Answer №4

Currently, the top choice is likely jstz as recommended in mbayloon's response.

It's worth noting that a standard called Intl is in development. This feature is already visible in Chrome:

> Intl.DateTimeFormat().resolvedOptions().timeZone
"America/Los_Angeles"

(However, this implementation doesn't fully comply with the standard, so utilizing the library may be the safer choice)

Answer 8

Currently, the top choice is likely jstz as recommended in mbayloon's response.

It's worth noting that a standard called Intl is in development. This feature is already visible in Chrome:

> Intl.DateTimeFormat().resolvedOptions().timeZone
"America/Los_Angeles"

(However, this implementation doesn't fully comply with the standard, so utilizing the library may be the safer choice)

Answer 9

Answer №5

One way to determine the timezone is by using moment-timezone:

> moment.tz.guess()
"Pacific/Auckland"

Answer 10

One way to determine the timezone is by using moment-timezone:

> moment.tz.guess()
"Pacific/Auckland"

Answer 11

Answer №6

Check out this jsfiddle link

This code snippet reveals the abbreviation of the current user's timezone.

Take a look at the code below

var tz = jstz.determine();
console.log(tz.name());
console.log(moment.tz.zone(tz.name()).abbr(new Date().getTime()));

Answer 12

Check out this jsfiddle link

This code snippet reveals the abbreviation of the current user's timezone.

Take a look at the code below

var tz = jstz.determine();
console.log(tz.name());
console.log(moment.tz.zone(tz.name()).abbr(new Date().getTime()));

Answer 13

Answer №7

Incorporating a method reminiscent of Josh Fraser's approach, I devised a strategy to determine the browser's time offset from UTC and its Daylight Saving Time (DST) observance, albeit in a simplified form:

var ClientTZ = {
    UTCoffset:  0,          // Browser time offset from UTC in minutes
    UTCoffsetT: '+0000S',   // Browser time offset from UTC in '±hhmmD' form
    hasDST:     false,      // Browser time observes DST

    // Establish browser's timezone and DST
    getBrowserTZ: function () {
        var self = ClientTZ;

        // Determine UTC time offset
        var now = new Date();
        var date1 = new Date(now.getFullYear(), 1-1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0);    // Jan
        var diff1 = -date1.getTimezoneOffset();
        self.UTCoffset = diff1;

        // Determine DST usage
        var date2 = new Date(now.getFullYear(), 6-1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0);    // Jun
        var diff2 = -date2.getTimezoneOffset();
        if (diff1 != diff2) {
            self.hasDST = true;
            if (diff1 - diff2 >= 0)
                self.UTCoffset = diff2;     // East of GMT
        }

        // Convert UTC offset to ±hhmmD form
        diff2 = (diff1 < 0 ? -diff1 : diff1) / 60;
        var hr = Math.floor(diff2);
        var min = diff2 - hr;
        diff2 = hr * 100 + min * 60;
        self.UTCoffsetT = (diff1 < 0 ? '-' : '+') + (hr < 10 ? '0' : '') + diff2.toString() + (self.hasDST ? 'D' : 'S');

        return self.UTCoffset;
    }
};

// Upon loading
ClientTZ.getBrowserTZ();

After initialization, the ClientTZ.getBrowserTZ() function executes, which defines:

ClientTZ.UTCoffset as the browser time offset from UTC in minutes (e.g., CST is −360 minutes, equivalent to −6.0 hours from UTC);
ClientTZ.UTCoffsetT as the offset in the format '±hhmmD' (e.g., '-0600D'), with D denoting DST and
```
S</code representing standard time;</li>
<li><code>ClientTZ.hasDST
```
(either true or false).

Utilizing minutes for

ClientTZ.UTCoffset</code instead of hours allows for fractional hourly offsets present in certain time zones (e.g., +0415).</p>

<p>The purpose behind <code>ClientTZ.UTCoffsetT

is to utilize it as a reference key within a timezone table (not included here), perhaps for use in a dropdown <select> menu.

Answer 14

Incorporating a method reminiscent of Josh Fraser's approach, I devised a strategy to determine the browser's time offset from UTC and its Daylight Saving Time (DST) observance, albeit in a simplified form:

var ClientTZ = {
    UTCoffset:  0,          // Browser time offset from UTC in minutes
    UTCoffsetT: '+0000S',   // Browser time offset from UTC in '±hhmmD' form
    hasDST:     false,      // Browser time observes DST

    // Establish browser's timezone and DST
    getBrowserTZ: function () {
        var self = ClientTZ;

        // Determine UTC time offset
        var now = new Date();
        var date1 = new Date(now.getFullYear(), 1-1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0);    // Jan
        var diff1 = -date1.getTimezoneOffset();
        self.UTCoffset = diff1;

        // Determine DST usage
        var date2 = new Date(now.getFullYear(), 6-1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0);    // Jun
        var diff2 = -date2.getTimezoneOffset();
        if (diff1 != diff2) {
            self.hasDST = true;
            if (diff1 - diff2 >= 0)
                self.UTCoffset = diff2;     // East of GMT
        }

        // Convert UTC offset to ±hhmmD form
        diff2 = (diff1 < 0 ? -diff1 : diff1) / 60;
        var hr = Math.floor(diff2);
        var min = diff2 - hr;
        diff2 = hr * 100 + min * 60;
        self.UTCoffsetT = (diff1 < 0 ? '-' : '+') + (hr < 10 ? '0' : '') + diff2.toString() + (self.hasDST ? 'D' : 'S');

        return self.UTCoffset;
    }
};

// Upon loading
ClientTZ.getBrowserTZ();

After initialization, the ClientTZ.getBrowserTZ() function executes, which defines:

ClientTZ.UTCoffset as the browser time offset from UTC in minutes (e.g., CST is −360 minutes, equivalent to −6.0 hours from UTC);
ClientTZ.UTCoffsetT as the offset in the format '±hhmmD' (e.g., '-0600D'), with D denoting DST and
```
S</code representing standard time;</li>
<li><code>ClientTZ.hasDST
```
(either true or false).

Utilizing minutes for

ClientTZ.UTCoffset</code instead of hours allows for fractional hourly offsets present in certain time zones (e.g., +0415).</p>

<p>The purpose behind <code>ClientTZ.UTCoffsetT

is to utilize it as a reference key within a timezone table (not included here), perhaps for use in a dropdown <select> menu.

Answer 15

Answer №8

Sorry, but trusting the client is not a foolproof method and probably never will be. It's important to stay cautious.

Answer 16

Sorry, but trusting the client is not a foolproof method and probably never will be. It's important to stay cautious.

retrieve the client's time zone based on browser information

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

Answer №4

Answer №5

Answer №6

Answer №7

Answer №8

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