UTC stands for Coordinated Universal Time. It is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. UTC is often referred to as GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), although GMT is technically a time zone rather than a time standard. UTC is used as a basis for calculating time worldwide, and it is not affected by Daylight Saving Time or other local adjustments. It is a timekeeping system that accounts for leap seconds to keep it within 0.9 seconds of mean solar time (UT1). Leap seconds are added or subtracted as needed to synchronize UTC with the Earth's rotation. UTC is commonly used in various fields, including aviation, computing, telecommunications, and international finance, to ensure a standardized and consistent time reference across the globe. When you see "UTC time," it typically refers to the time based on the Coordinated Universal Time standard.
Local time refers to the current time in a specific geographical location or time zone. Unlike Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which serves as a global time standard, local time is adjusted to the time zone of a particular region. Each time zone is generally centered around a specific meridian, and the local time is based on the position of the sun in the sky relative to that meridian. Local time takes into account factors such as daylight saving time (DST) adjustments, which involve setting the clocks forward by one hour during certain periods of the year to make better use of natural daylight. Some regions observe DST to make evenings longer and reduce the need for artificial lighting. For example, if you are in a city with a local time zone of UTC+2 and daylight saving time is in effect, the local time would be UTC+3. If daylight saving time is not in effect, the local time would be UTC+2. Local time is what people typically refer to when they talk about the time in their immediate surroundings or a specific city or region. It is the time that is commonly displayed on clocks and used in everyday activities and scheduling.