JavaScript: Get difference to Greenwich time in hours

JavaScript Datetime: Exercise-39 with Solution

Write a JavaScript function to get the difference between Greenwich time (GMT) and in hours.

Test Data :
dt = new Date();
console.log(diff_to_GMT(dt));
"+05.500"

Sample Solution:

JavaScript Code:

// Define a function diff_to_GMT that takes a Date object dt as input
function diff_to_GMT(dt) 
{ 
   // Calculate the difference between the local timezone offset and GMT
   // If the offset is negative, prepend '-' else prepend '+'
   // Convert the offset to hours, ensuring a leading zero if the absolute value is less than 10
   // Append '00' to represent minutes
   return (-dt.getTimezoneOffset() < 0 ? '-' : '+') + (Math.abs(dt.getTimezoneOffset() / 60) < 10 ? '0' : '') + (Math.abs(dt.getTimezoneOffset() / 60)) + '00';
}

// Create a new Date object representing the current date and time
dt = new Date(); 
// Output the timezone difference to GMT for the current date and time
console.log(diff_to_GMT(dt)); 

// Create a new Date object representing November 1, 1989
dt = new Date(1989, 10, 1); 
// Output the timezone difference to GMT for November 1, 1989
console.log(diff_to_GMT(dt));

Output:

+05.500
+05.500

Explanation:

In the exercise above,

• The code defines a function called "diff_to_GMT()" that calculates the timezone difference from GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) for a given date.
• Inside the diff_to_GMT function:
• It calculates the timezone offset of the provided date using "dt.getTimezoneOffset()". This value represents the difference, in minutes, between the local timezone and GMT.
• It checks if the timezone offset is negative:
• If it's negative, it means the local timezone is behind GMT, so it prepends a '-' sign to indicate this.
• If it's positive or zero, it means the local timezone is ahead of GMT, so it prepends a '+' sign.
• It then calculates the absolute value of the timezone offset divided by 60 to convert it to hours. If the absolute value is less than 10, it adds a leading '0' to ensure a two-digit representation.
• Finally, it appends '00' to represent the minutes component of the timezone offset.
• After defining the function, the code creates a new Date object "dt" representing the current date and time using 'new Date()'. It then calls the "diff_to_GMT()" function with this Date object and outputs the result (the timezone difference to GMT for the current date and time) to the console.
• Next, the code creates another new Date object "dt" representing November 1, 1989, using 'new Date(1989, 10, 1)'. It again calls the "diff_to_GMT()" function with this Date object and outputs the result to the console.

Flowchart:

Live Demo:

See the Pen JavaScript - Get difference to Greenwich time in hours-date-ex-39 by w3resource (@w3resource) on CodePen.

Improve this sample solution and post your code through Disqus.

Previous: Write a JavaScript function to find whether or not the date is in daylights savings time.
Next: Write a JavaScript function to get timezone offset in seconds.