DateTime.ToUniversalTime Method
Definition
Important
Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.
Converts the value of the current DateTime object to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
public:
DateTime ToUniversalTime();public DateTime ToUniversalTime ();member this.ToUniversalTime : unit -> DateTimePublic Function ToUniversalTime () As DateTimeReturns
An object whose Kind property is Utc, and whose value is the UTC equivalent to the value of the current DateTime object, or DateTime.MaxValue if the converted value is too large to be represented by a DateTime object, or DateTime.MinValue if the converted value is too small to be represented by a DateTime object.
Examples
The following example demonstrates the ToUniversalTime method.
using namespace System;
void main()
{
Console::WriteLine("Enter a date and time.");
String^ strDateTime = Console::ReadLine();
DateTime localDateTime, univDateTime;
try
{
localDateTime = DateTime::Parse(strDateTime);
univDateTime = localDateTime.ToUniversalTime();
Console::WriteLine("{0} local time is {1} universal time.",
localDateTime, univDateTime );
}
catch (FormatException^)
{
Console::WriteLine("Invalid format.");
return;
}
Console::WriteLine("Enter a date and time in universal time.");
strDateTime = Console::ReadLine();
try
{
univDateTime = DateTime::Parse(strDateTime);
localDateTime = univDateTime.ToLocalTime();
Console::WriteLine("{0} universal time is {1} local time.",
univDateTime, localDateTime );
}
catch (FormatException^)
{
Console::WriteLine("Invalid format.");
return;
}
}
// The example displays output like the following when run on a
// computer whose culture is en-US in the Pacific Standard Time zone:
// Enter a date and time.
// 12/10/2015 6:18 AM
// 12/10/2015 6:18:00 AM local time is 12/10/2015 2:18:00 PM universal time.
// Enter a date and time in universal time.
// 12/20/2015 6:42:00
// 12/20/2015 6:42:00 AM universal time is 12/19/2015 10:42:00 PM local time.
open System
printfn "Enter a date and time."
try
let strDateTime = stdin.ReadLine()
let localDateTime = DateTime.Parse strDateTime
let univDateTime = localDateTime.ToUniversalTime()
printfn $"{localDateTime} local time is {univDateTime} universal time."
with :? FormatException ->
printfn "Invalid format."
printfn "Enter a date and time in universal time."
try
let strDateTime = stdin.ReadLine()
let univDateTime = DateTime.Parse strDateTime
let localDateTime = univDateTime.ToLocalTime()
printfn $"{univDateTime} universal time is {localDateTime} local time."
with :? FormatException ->
printfn "Invalid format."
// The example displays output like the following when run on a
// computer whose culture is en-US in the Pacific Standard Time zone:
// Enter a date and time.
// 12/10/2015 6:18 AM
// 12/10/2015 6:18:00 AM local time is 12/10/2015 2:18:00 PM universal time.
// Enter a date and time in universal time.
// 12/20/2015 6:42:00
// 12/20/2015 6:42:00 AM universal time is 12/19/2015 10:42:00 PM local time.
using System;
class Example
{
static void Main()
{
DateTime localDateTime, univDateTime;
Console.WriteLine("Enter a date and time.");
string strDateTime = Console.ReadLine();
try {
localDateTime = DateTime.Parse(strDateTime);
univDateTime = localDateTime.ToUniversalTime();
Console.WriteLine("{0} local time is {1} universal time.",
localDateTime,
univDateTime);
}
catch (FormatException) {
Console.WriteLine("Invalid format.");
return;
}
Console.WriteLine("Enter a date and time in universal time.");
strDateTime = Console.ReadLine();
try {
univDateTime = DateTime.Parse(strDateTime);
localDateTime = univDateTime.ToLocalTime();
Console.WriteLine("{0} universal time is {1} local time.",
univDateTime,
localDateTime);
}
catch (FormatException) {
Console.WriteLine("Invalid format.");
return;
}
}
}
// The example displays output like the following when run on a
// computer whose culture is en-US in the Pacific Standard Time zone:
// Enter a date and time.
// 12/10/2015 6:18 AM
// 12/10/2015 6:18:00 AM local time is 12/10/2015 2:18:00 PM universal time.
// Enter a date and time in universal time.
// 12/20/2015 6:42:00
// 12/20/2015 6:42:00 AM universal time is 12/19/2015 10:42:00 PM local time.
Module Example
Sub Main()
Dim localDateTime, univDateTime As DateTime
Console.WriteLine("Enter a date and time.")
Dim strDateTime As String = Console.ReadLine()
Try
localDateTime = DateTime.Parse(strDateTime)
univDateTime = localDateTime.ToUniversalTime()
Console.WriteLine("{0} local time is {1} universal time.",
localDateTime, univDateTime)
Catch exp As FormatException
Console.WriteLine("Invalid format.")
End Try
Console.WriteLine("Enter a date and time in universal time.")
strDateTime = Console.ReadLine()
Try
univDateTime = DateTime.Parse(strDateTime)
localDateTime = univDateTime.ToLocalTime()
Console.WriteLine("{0} universal time is {1} local time.", _
univDateTime, localDateTime)
Catch exp As FormatException
Console.WriteLine("Invalid format.")
End Try
End Sub
End Module
' The example displays output like the following when run on a
' computer whose culture is en-US in the Pacific Standard Time zone:
' Enter a date and time.
' 12/10/2015 6:18 AM
' 12/10/2015 6:18:00 AM local time is 12/10/2015 2:18:00 PM universal time.
' Enter a date and time in universal time.
' 12/20/2015 6:42:00
' 12/20/2015 6:42:00 AM universal time is 12/19/2015 10:42:00 PM local time.
The following example uses the SpecifyKind method to demonstrate how the Kind property influences the ToLocalTime and ToUniversalTime conversion methods.
// This code example demonstrates the DateTime Kind, Now, and
// UtcNow properties, and the SpecifyKind(), ToLocalTime(),
// and ToUniversalTime() methods.
open System
// Display the value and Kind property of a DateTime structure, the
// DateTime structure converted to local time, and the DateTime
// structure converted to universal time.
let datePatt = @"M/d/yyyy hh:mm:ss tt"
let display title (inputDt: DateTime) =
// Display the original DateTime.
let dispDt = inputDt
let dtString = dispDt.ToString datePatt
printfn $"%s{title} {dtString}, Kind = {dispDt.Kind}"
// Convert inputDt to local time and display the result.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Utc, the conversion is performed.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Local, the conversion is not performed.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Unspecified, the conversion is
// performed as if inputDt was universal time.
let dispDt = inputDt.ToLocalTime()
let dtString = dispDt.ToString datePatt
printfn $" ToLocalTime: {dtString}, Kind = {dispDt.Kind}"
// Convert inputDt to universal time and display the result.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Utc, the conversion is not performed.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Local, the conversion is performed.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Unspecified, the conversion is
// performed as if inputDt was local time.
let dispDt = inputDt.ToUniversalTime()
let dtString = dispDt.ToString datePatt
printfn $" ToUniversalTime: {dtString}, Kind = {dispDt.Kind}\n"
// Display the value and Kind property for DateTime.Now and DateTime.UtcNow.
let displayNow title (inputDt: DateTime) =
let dtString = inputDt.ToString datePatt
printfn $"%s{title} {dtString}, Kind = {inputDt.Kind}"
[<EntryPoint>]
let main _ =
// Get the date and time for the current moment, adjusted
// to the local time zone.
let saveNow = DateTime.Now
// Get the date and time for the current moment expressed
// as coordinated universal time (UTC).
let saveUtcNow = DateTime.UtcNow
// Display the value and Kind property of the current moment
// expressed as UTC and local time.
displayNow "UtcNow: .........." saveUtcNow
displayNow "Now: ............." saveNow
printfn ""
// Change the Kind property of the current moment to
// DateTimeKind.Utc and display the result.
let myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Utc)
display "Utc: ............." myDt
// Change the Kind property of the current moment to
// DateTimeKind.Local and display the result.
let myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Local)
display "Local: ..........." myDt
// Change the Kind property of the current moment to
// DateTimeKind.Unspecified and display the result.
let myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Unspecified)
display "Unspecified: ....." myDt
0
// This code example produces the following results:
//
// UtcNow: .......... 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
// Now: ............. 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
//
// Utc: ............. 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
// ToLocalTime: 5/6/2005 07:34:42 AM, Kind = Local
// ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
//
// Local: ........... 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
// ToLocalTime: 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
// ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
//
// Unspecified: ..... 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Unspecified
// ToLocalTime: 5/6/2005 07:34:42 AM, Kind = Local
// ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
// This code example demonstrates the DateTime Kind, Now, and
// UtcNow properties, and the SpecifyKind(), ToLocalTime(),
// and ToUniversalTime() methods.
using System;
class Sample
{
public static void Main()
{
// Get the date and time for the current moment, adjusted
// to the local time zone.
DateTime saveNow = DateTime.Now;
// Get the date and time for the current moment expressed
// as coordinated universal time (UTC).
DateTime saveUtcNow = DateTime.UtcNow;
DateTime myDt;
// Display the value and Kind property of the current moment
// expressed as UTC and local time.
DisplayNow("UtcNow: ..........", saveUtcNow);
DisplayNow("Now: .............", saveNow);
Console.WriteLine();
// Change the Kind property of the current moment to
// DateTimeKind.Utc and display the result.
myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Utc);
Display("Utc: .............", myDt);
// Change the Kind property of the current moment to
// DateTimeKind.Local and display the result.
myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Local);
Display("Local: ...........", myDt);
// Change the Kind property of the current moment to
// DateTimeKind.Unspecified and display the result.
myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Unspecified);
Display("Unspecified: .....", myDt);
}
// Display the value and Kind property of a DateTime structure, the
// DateTime structure converted to local time, and the DateTime
// structure converted to universal time.
public static string datePatt = @"M/d/yyyy hh:mm:ss tt";
public static void Display(string title, DateTime inputDt)
{
DateTime dispDt = inputDt;
string dtString;
// Display the original DateTime.
dtString = dispDt.ToString(datePatt);
Console.WriteLine("{0} {1}, Kind = {2}",
title, dtString, dispDt.Kind);
// Convert inputDt to local time and display the result.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Utc, the conversion is performed.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Local, the conversion is not performed.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Unspecified, the conversion is
// performed as if inputDt was universal time.
dispDt = inputDt.ToLocalTime();
dtString = dispDt.ToString(datePatt);
Console.WriteLine(" ToLocalTime: {0}, Kind = {1}",
dtString, dispDt.Kind);
// Convert inputDt to universal time and display the result.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Utc, the conversion is not performed.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Local, the conversion is performed.
// If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Unspecified, the conversion is
// performed as if inputDt was local time.
dispDt = inputDt.ToUniversalTime();
dtString = dispDt.ToString(datePatt);
Console.WriteLine(" ToUniversalTime: {0}, Kind = {1}",
dtString, dispDt.Kind);
Console.WriteLine();
}
// Display the value and Kind property for DateTime.Now and DateTime.UtcNow.
public static void DisplayNow(string title, DateTime inputDt)
{
string dtString = inputDt.ToString(datePatt);
Console.WriteLine("{0} {1}, Kind = {2}",
title, dtString, inputDt.Kind);
}
}
/*
This code example produces the following results:
UtcNow: .......... 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
Now: ............. 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
Utc: ............. 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
ToLocalTime: 5/6/2005 07:34:42 AM, Kind = Local
ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
Local: ........... 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
ToLocalTime: 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
Unspecified: ..... 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Unspecified
ToLocalTime: 5/6/2005 07:34:42 AM, Kind = Local
ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
*/
' This code example demonstrates the DateTime Kind, Now, and
' UtcNow properties, and the SpecifyKind(), ToLocalTime(),
' and ToUniversalTime() methods.
Class Sample
Public Shared Sub Main()
' Get the date and time for the current moment, adjusted
' to the local time zone.
Dim saveNow As DateTime = DateTime.Now
' Get the date and time for the current moment expressed
' as coordinated universal time (UTC).
Dim saveUtcNow As DateTime = DateTime.UtcNow
Dim myDt As DateTime
' Display the value and Kind property of the current moment
' expressed as UTC and local time.
DisplayNow("UtcNow: ..........", saveUtcNow)
DisplayNow("Now: .............", saveNow)
Console.WriteLine()
' Change the Kind property of the current moment to
' DateTimeKind.Utc and display the result.
myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Utc)
Display("Utc: .............", myDt)
' Change the Kind property of the current moment to
' DateTimeKind.Local and display the result.
myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Local)
Display("Local: ...........", myDt)
' Change the Kind property of the current moment to
' DateTimeKind.Unspecified and display the result.
myDt = DateTime.SpecifyKind(saveNow, DateTimeKind.Unspecified)
Display("Unspecified: .....", myDt)
End Sub
' Display the value and Kind property of a DateTime structure, the
' DateTime structure converted to local time, and the DateTime
' structure converted to universal time.
Public Shared datePatt As String = "M/d/yyyy hh:mm:ss tt"
Public Shared Sub Display(ByVal title As String, ByVal inputDt As DateTime)
Dim dispDt As DateTime = inputDt
Dim dtString As String
' Display the original DateTime.
dtString = dispDt.ToString(datePatt)
Console.WriteLine("{0} {1}, Kind = {2}", title, dtString, dispDt.Kind)
' Convert inputDt to local time and display the result.
' If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Utc, the conversion is performed.
' If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Local, the conversion is not performed.
' If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Unspecified, the conversion is
' performed as if inputDt was universal time.
dispDt = inputDt.ToLocalTime()
dtString = dispDt.ToString(datePatt)
Console.WriteLine(" ToLocalTime: {0}, Kind = {1}", dtString, dispDt.Kind)
' Convert inputDt to universal time and display the result.
' If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Utc, the conversion is not performed.
' If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Local, the conversion is performed.
' If inputDt.Kind is DateTimeKind.Unspecified, the conversion is
' performed as if inputDt was local time.
dispDt = inputDt.ToUniversalTime()
dtString = dispDt.ToString(datePatt)
Console.WriteLine(" ToUniversalTime: {0}, Kind = {1}", dtString, dispDt.Kind)
Console.WriteLine()
End Sub
' Display the value and Kind property for DateTime.Now and DateTime.UtcNow.
Public Shared Sub DisplayNow(ByVal title As String, ByVal inputDt As DateTime)
Dim dtString As String = inputDt.ToString(datePatt)
Console.WriteLine("{0} {1}, Kind = {2}", title, dtString, inputDt.Kind)
End Sub
End Class
'
'This code example produces the following results:
'
'UtcNow: .......... 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
'Now: ............. 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
'
'Utc: ............. 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
' ToLocalTime: 5/6/2005 07:34:42 AM, Kind = Local
' ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
'
'Local: ........... 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
' ToLocalTime: 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Local
' ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
'
'Unspecified: ..... 5/6/2005 02:34:42 PM, Kind = Unspecified
' ToLocalTime: 5/6/2005 07:34:42 AM, Kind = Local
' ToUniversalTime: 5/6/2005 09:34:42 PM, Kind = Utc
'
Remarks
The Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is equal to the local time minus the UTC offset. For more information about the UTC offset, see TimeZoneInfo.GetUtcOffset. The conversion also takes into account the daylight saving time rule that applies to the time represented by the current DateTime object.
Important
On Windows XP systems, the ToUniversalTime method recognizes only the current adjustment rule when converting from local time to UTC. As a result, conversions for periods before the current adjustment rule came into effect may not accurately reflect the difference between local time and UTC.
Starting with the .NET Framework version 2.0, the value returned by the ToUniversalTime method is determined by the Kind property of the current DateTime object. The following table describes the possible results.
| Kind | Results |
|---|---|
| Utc | No conversion is performed. |
| Local | The current DateTime object is converted to UTC. |
| Unspecified | The current DateTime object is assumed to be a local time, and the conversion is performed as if Kind were Local. |
Note
The ToUniversalTime method converts a DateTime value from local time to UTC. To convert the time in a non-local time zone to UTC, use the TimeZoneInfo.ConvertTimeToUtc(DateTime, TimeZoneInfo) method. To convert a time whose offset from UTC is known, use the ToUniversalTime method.
If the date and time instance value is an ambiguous time, this method assumes that it is a standard time. (An ambiguous time is one that can map either to a standard time or to a daylight saving time in the local time zone) If the date and time instance value is an invalid time, this method simply subtracts the local time from the local time zone's UTC offset to return UTC. (An invalid time is one that does not exist because of the application of daylight saving time adjustment rules.)
Notes to Callers
The ToUniversalTime() method is sometimes used to convert a local time to UTC. The ToLocalTime() method is then called to restore the original local time. However, if the original time represents an invalid time in the local time zone, the two local time values will not be equal. For additional information and an example, see the ToLocalTime() method.
On Windows XP systems, the ToUniversalTime() method recognizes only the current adjustment rule for the local time zone, which it applies to all dates, including down-level dates (that is, dates that are earlier than the starting date of the current adjustment rule). Applications running on Windows XP that require historically accurate local date and time calculations must work around this behavior by using the FindSystemTimeZoneById(String) method to retrieve a TimeZoneInfo object that corresponds to the local time zone and calling its ConvertTimeToUtc(DateTime, TimeZoneInfo) method.
The following example illustrates the difference between the ToUniversalTime() and ConvertTimeToUtc(DateTime, TimeZoneInfo) methods on a Windows XP system in the U.S. Pacific Time zone. The first two method calls apply the current time zone adjustment rule (which went into effect in 2007) to a date in 2006. The current adjustment rule provides for the transition to daylight saving time on the second Sunday of March; the previous rule, which was in effect in 2006, provided for the transition to daylight saving time to occur on the first Sunday of April. Only the third method call accurately performs this historical date and time conversion.
using System;
public class Example
{
public static void Main()
{
DateTime date1 = new DateTime(2006, 3, 21, 2, 0, 0);
Console.WriteLine(date1.ToUniversalTime());
Console.WriteLine(TimeZoneInfo.ConvertTimeToUtc(date1));
TimeZoneInfo tz = TimeZoneInfo.FindSystemTimeZoneById("Pacific Standard Time");
Console.WriteLine(TimeZoneInfo.ConvertTimeToUtc(date1, tz));
}
}
// The example displays the following output on Windows XP systems:
// 3/21/2006 9:00:00 AM
// 3/21/2006 9:00:00 AM
// 3/21/2006 10:00:00 AM
open System
let date1 = DateTime(2006, 3, 21, 2, 0, 0)
printfn $"{date1.ToUniversalTime()}"
printfn $"{TimeZoneInfo.ConvertTimeToUtc date1}"
let tz = TimeZoneInfo.FindSystemTimeZoneById "Pacific Standard Time"
printfn $"{TimeZoneInfo.ConvertTimeToUtc(date1, tz)}"
// The example displays the following output on Windows XP systems:
// 3/21/2006 9:00:00 AM
// 3/21/2006 9:00:00 AM
// 3/21/2006 10:00:00 AM
Module Example
Public Sub Main()
Dim date1 As Date = #3/21/2006 2:00AM#
Console.WriteLine(date1.ToUniversalTime())
Console.WriteLine(TimeZoneInfo.ConvertTimeToUtc(date1))
Dim tz As TimeZoneInfo = TimeZoneInfo.FindSystemTimeZoneById("Pacific Standard Time")
Console.WriteLine(TimeZoneInfo.ConvertTimeToUtc(date1, tz))
End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output on Windows XP systems:
' 3/21/2006 9:00:00 AM
' 3/21/2006 9:00:00 AM
' 3/21/2006 10:00:00 AM
Applies to
See also
Collaborate with us on GitHub
The source for this content can be found on GitHub, where you can also create and review issues and pull requests. For more information, see our contributor guide.
