---
url: >-
  /statelake/scripting-reference/functions-and-procedures/datetime-functions/localtoutc.md
---

# LocalToUTC

**LocalToUTC** returns the date and time value in Universal Coordinated Time (**UTC**) that corresponds to the given local date and time as specified by **AValue**.

**UTC** is the base time and time-zone from which the other time-zones around the world are defined and calculated. For almost all practical purposes, **UTC** is equivalent to the older term of **Greenwich Mean Time**, or **GMT**.

**UTC** never has **Daylight Time** or **Daylight Saving Time** applied to it, whereas local time-zones can have alternating periods of **Standard Time** and **Daylight (Saving) Time**.

This function will use the time-zone setting from the Windows operating system on the **Statelake** server, at the time that the function is called.

::: warning
This function is not intended to be used for date calculations away from the current local time, because it will not adjust for any changes in time-zone settings that have occurred during the intervening period. So while the function may appear to give a correct **UTC** time for a future **TDateTime** value, it may not actually be correct. And the value returned for a retrospective **TDateTime** value will be based on the current time zone - and may also return an incorrect UTC time.

So regardless of whether the **UTC** time is 12 or 13 hours behind for the specified date **AValue**, this function will only apply the rule that is current at the time that the function is called.

i.e. Calling **LocalToUTC** for a date 6 months ago (or even one week ago), may not give you the correct result.
:::

**Declaration**: Function LocalToUTC(const AValue: TDateTime): TDateTime;

A simple example follows.

```pascal
procedure OnMapEvent(var Value:Variant);
begin
 {If NOW() is 2024-06-25 14:15:16 (i.e. 2:15 pm local NZ Standard Time) then
  the result is 2024-06-25 02:15:16 (i.e. 2:15 a.m. UTC)
  But if NOW() is 2024-12-25 14:15:16 (i.e. 2:15 pm local NZ Daylight Time)
  then the result is 2024-12-25 01:15:16 (i.e. 1:15 a.m. UTC)}
  Value := LocalToUTC(Now);
end;
```