Timezones

In Relate we saved CST to DB and converted back to UTC to display in UI

but it is better to store in UTC and add UTC Offset based on timezone.

The main difference between UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) and CST (Central Standard Time) lies in their time offsets and geographical regions of use.

1. UTC (Coordinated Universal Time):

   • UTC is a time standard that serves as the basis for timekeeping worldwide.
   • It is not tied to any specific location on Earth and is used as a reference for time in various regions.
   • UTC is the primary time standard by which all other time zones are defined.
   • It does not observe daylight saving time, so it remains constant throughout the year.
   • The offset for UTC is +00:00, meaning it is the same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

2. CST (Central Standard Time):

   • CST is a time zone observed in certain regions, particularly in North America and Central America.
   • It is 6 hours behind UTC during standard time (UTC-6).
   • CST is typically used in locations like Central United States (e.g., Texas, Kansas, Illinois) and Central America (e.g., Mexico City, Guatemala City).
   • During daylight saving time, some regions in CST switch to Central Daylight Time (CDT), which is UTC-5.

In summary, UTC is a global time standard used as a reference for timekeeping, while CST is a specific time zone observed in regions such as North America and Central America. The main difference is the time offset, with CST being either UTC-6 or UTC-5 during daylight saving time.