Ruby | The Timezone() Function

Ruby is a high-level programming language that is popular for its simplicity and expressiveness. One of its powerful built-in functions is the timezone() function. In this article, we will explore what this function does and how it can be used to work with different time zones.

What is the Timezone() Function?

The timezone() function in Ruby is used to create a Time object that is adjusted for a specific time zone. It takes a single argument, which is the name of the time zone. The time zone name can be specified using a string or a symbol.

Syntax

Time.zone(time_zone_name)

Example:

Time.zone("UTC")

Parameters

• time_zone_name: The name of the time zone to be used for the Time object.

Return Value

• A Time object that is adjusted for the specified time zone.

Usage of Timezone() Function

The timezone() function can be used in a variety of scenarios. Let's explore some examples:

Converting Time Zone

Time.now             # => 2021-08-19 06:30:00 +0000
Time.zone("EST").now # => Thu, 18 Aug 2021 23:30:00 EST -05:00

In this example, we first create a Time object that represents the current time in the UTC time zone. We then use the timezone() function to create a new Time object that represents the current time in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) time zone.

Setting Default Time Zone

The timezone() function can also be used to set the default time zone for the entire application.

config.time_zone = "UTC"

This code sets the default time zone to the UTC time zone. All Time objects created in the application will be adjusted for this time zone.

Working with Time Zones

The timezone() function can also be used to work with different time zones. For example, we can use it to calculate the time difference between two locations with different time zones.

start_time = Time.zone("EST").parse("2021-08-18 09:00:00")
end_time = Time.zone("PDT").parse("2021-08-18 12:00:00")

time_difference = (end_time - start_time) / 3600

In this example, we use the timezone() function to create two Time objects that represent the start time and end time of an event in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) time zones, respectively. We then calculate the time difference between the two times, and convert the result into hours.

Conclusion

The timezone() function is a powerful function in Ruby that can be used to work with different time zones. It is simple to use and can be used in a variety of scenarios. Whether you are converting time zones, setting default time zones, or working with multiple time zones, the timezone() function can help streamline your code and ensure accurate time calculations.