How can I handle time zones in my webapp?

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The issue of storing timestamps is simple: Store them in UTC.

As for displaying them, it would make sense to take the device’s timezone setting and use that as the current timezone. That said, there should be a timezone dropdown next to the “time input” box, which defaults to the device’s current timezone, so the user can change it if needed.

The majority of your users probably will not change timezones much, or at all. For the most part, the situation you outlined is uncommon. By implementing a dropdown with a suitable default, you should be able to make things easy enough for those who do move around (because they typically have a better understanding of timezones than a non-traveller would).

In fact, even better would be to save the timezone the device was set to when your app was first run, and then see if it ever changes. If it does change, then the user is probably a traveller and would probably benefit from having the timezone dropdown. Otherwise, just don’t show the dropdown and default to the device timezone (because the user doesn’t need to know about them). In either case, have a setting in the app that allows the user to manually show/hide the timezone dropdown.

To summarise the above:

  • On first run, save what timezone the device is set to.
  • Use that timezone as the default timezone. Always assume that timezone.
  • Should the device switch timezones, add a dropdown to select which timezone the event is in, defaulting to the device’s own timezone.
  • Add an option to show/hide this timezone dropdown manually.
  • Always store timestamps in UTC.

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