tzdb

Introduction to the tzdb Project

The tzdb project is a comprehensive resource designed to simplify working with time zones in software development. It provides an easily accessible list and npm package that features both simplified and raw International Association of Time Zones (IANA) time zone information. The tzdb project comes equipped with several key features that make it a valuable tool for developers, especially those who need to implement time zone selection in their applications.

What tzdb Offers

1. Simplified Time Zones: The project includes "simplified" IANA time zones with alternative names and major city information. For instance, instead of using America/Los_Angeles, one can use Pacific Time, offering a more intuitive understanding for users and developers alike.

2. Comprehensive Time Zone Data: It covers all existing raw IANA time zone names, ensuring that developers have access to the most complete and up-to-date data.

3. Time Offset Information: The package provides raw offsets, as well as current time offsets, allowing applications to accurately reflect the current time for any given location.

4. Deprecated Time Zone Names: For compatibility purposes, tzdb also includes outdated time zone names. This is particularly useful for applications that need to interface with legacy systems or datasets.

Automatic Updates

A standout feature of tzdb is its automatic update mechanism. Whenever there are changes to the database on geonames.org, which is generated from IANA databases, the tzdb package is updated accordingly. This ensures developers are always working with the latest time zone data without needing manual intervention.

How to Use tzdb in Your Project

To start using tzdb, you can easily install the npm package with the command:

npm add @vvo/tzdb

After installation, integrating it into your project is straightforward:

import { getTimeZones, rawTimeZones, timeZonesNames, abbreviations } from "@vvo/tzdb";

API Functions

The tzdb project offers several useful functions:

• getTimeZones(): This function returns an array of time zone objects, including both name and detailed information like alternative names, continent code, and main city. It even has the option to include UTC in the results.

• rawTimeZones: If you need time zone information without current time details, this function provides a comprehensive list of time zone objects.

• timeZonesNames: This function returns an array of time zone names, giving developers a simple way to access all time zones.

• abbreviations: tzdb includes an object mapping time zone abbreviations to their full forms. It's important to be cautious with abbreviations, as they can be misleading (e.g., CST stands for different times in various countries).

Considerations and Best Practices

When utilizing tzdb for building a time zone selector in an application, it's recommended to save the name attribute (e.g., America/Los_Angeles) in your database. This aids in maintaining consistency and simplifies the process of displaying time zones based on saved data. Additionally, the project provides alternative names by removing terms like "Standard", "Daylight", or "Summer", making the names more user-friendly.

In summary, tzdb is a robust and automatically maintained tool for handling time zones in applications, ensuring developers have access to accurate and extensive time zone data with minimal effort.