GPS Time
GPS Time is a continuous time scale used by the Global Positioning System (GPS) to synchronize satellite signals and calculate precise positions. It is based on atomic clocks and started on January 6, 1980, at 00:00:00 UTC, but does not include leap seconds, causing it to drift from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This system provides a highly accurate and stable reference for timing applications in navigation, telecommunications, and scientific research.
Developers should learn GPS Time when working on applications requiring precise timing, such as GPS receivers, network synchronization, financial trading systems, or scientific data logging. It is essential for ensuring accurate time-stamping in distributed systems and for converting between different time standards in global positioning and communication technologies.