World clock FAQ
Practical answers for using Meridian's world clock, reading time differences and understanding the limits of a browser-based clock.
What is a world clock?
A world clock shows the current local time in different places at the same moment. Meridian puts multiple city clocks on one screen, with analog and digital displays, local dates and UTC offsets. It is useful for checking whether a colleague is at work or a friend is likely to be awake.
How do I compare time zones with Meridian?
Choose Add city, search for a city, country or IANA time zone, then select a result. Compare the clocks side by side. Expand any clock to see its full local date, UTC offset and time difference from your device location. The Yesterday and Tomorrow labels make date changes across time zones easier to spot.
Is Meridian a timezone converter for future dates?
Meridian compares time zones at the current moment. It does not yet accept a future date or meeting time. For a scheduled event, use a date-aware timezone converter or calendar and enter the actual event date: daylight-saving transitions can change the difference between two cities.
Does the world clock adjust for daylight saving time?
Yes. Meridian uses the time-zone rules available through your browser to calculate each city clock at the current moment. Cities can change clocks on different dates, and some do not observe daylight saving at all. Keep your browser and operating system updated so their time-zone data stays current.
Where does the time come from, and how accurate is it?
The current moment comes from your device clock, not a separate network time service. Your browser formats that moment in each selected time zone. If all clocks look wrong by the same amount, check your device date, time and automatic time settings. Meridian is not a certified timing source.
What do UTC offsets and day/night indicators mean?
A UTC offset is the difference between local time and Coordinated Universal Time. Offsets can include half-hour or quarter-hour increments. Meridian uses 06:00 to 17:59 local time as a simple daytime indicator; it does not calculate sunrise, sunset or actual daylight conditions.
Will my cities and settings be saved?
Selected cities, the light or dark theme, and the 12-hour or 24-hour format are saved in local storage in this browser when storage is available. They are not synchronized between devices. Private browsing, clearing site data or blocking storage may remove or prevent saved preferences.
Why does searching for my city show a different city name?
Time zones are represented by IANA identifiers such as America/New_York. Some city searches point to a representative city in the same time zone, so the displayed name can differ from the one you searched. Check the identifier and UTC offset rather than relying only on a familiar abbreviation.
Where can I check time-zone rules?
The IANA Time Zone Database is a primary reference for regional time-zone rules. For a future event, confirm the date in your calendar and check any relevant local announcements. Read how Meridian works or report a problem if you need help.