Why are all times displayed in UTC timezone?

All dates and times on HTPBE are displayed in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) for consistency, accuracy, and transparency. This is an intentional design choice to ensure everyone sees the same absolute time regardless of their location.

What is UTC?

UTC is the global time standard used worldwide. It’s equivalent to GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) and serves as the reference point for all timezones. Unlike local time, UTC never changes with daylight saving time or regional adjustments.

Why We Use UTC:

• Universal consistency: Everyone sees the exact same timestamp regardless of their location or timezone
• No timezone confusion: A document created “at 14:00” could mean different absolute times in New York vs Tokyo. UTC eliminates this ambiguity
• Technical accuracy: PDF files internally store timestamps in UTC. Displaying them in UTC preserves the original data without conversion errors
• International collaboration: When sharing results with people in different countries, UTC provides a common reference point
• Audit trail integrity: For legal and compliance purposes, UTC timestamps create unambiguous records

How to Convert UTC to Your Local Time:

If you need to know what time something was in your timezone:

• Google search: Type “14:00 UTC in [your timezone]” to get instant conversion
• Mental calculation: Add your UTC offset. For example, if you’re in New York (UTC-5), subtract 5 hours from UTC time
• Time converter tools: Many free online tools convert UTC to any timezone

Common UTC Offsets:

• New York: UTC-5 (or UTC-4 during daylight saving)
• London: UTC+0 (or UTC+1 during summer time)
• Paris/Berlin: UTC+1 (or UTC+2 during summer time)
• Dubai: UTC+4
• Singapore/Hong Kong: UTC+8
• Tokyo: UTC+9
• Sydney: UTC+10 (or UTC+11 during daylight saving)

What This Means for You:

When you see a timestamp like “12.02.2026 09:35:21 UTC” on HTPBE:

• This is the absolute, universal time the event occurred
• It’s the same timestamp everyone else sees, regardless of their location
• You can convert it to your local time if needed, but the UTC value is the authoritative record

Example Scenario:

You upload a PDF at 3:00 PM in New York (UTC-5). The check date shows “20:00 UTC” because:

• 3:00 PM in New York = 15:00 in 12-hour format
• 15:00 - 5 hours offset = 20:00 UTC

Someone viewing the same result in Tokyo (UTC+9) also sees “20:00 UTC”, not their local time. This ensures consistency and prevents confusion.

Bottom Line:

UTC display may seem unusual if you’re used to seeing local times, but it’s the professional standard for global systems. It ensures accuracy, eliminates timezone-related errors, and provides a reliable foundation for document verification timestamps.