# Time (data type)

A datatype representing a date or time.

Note: In SNOMED CT release file specifications date and times are represented as strings using the ISO 8601 basic format.

* The date format used is YYYYMMDD.
* Where time is included the format is YYYYMMDDThhmmssZ. The time is separated from the date by the letter "T" and followed by the letter "Z" indicating that the timezone is UTC.

Examples:

July 31st 2012: **20120731** .

13:15 UTC on August 2nd 2012: **20120802T131500Z**

## Related Links

* <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_8601>
* [Release File Data Types](/snomed-ct-specifications/snomed-ct-release-file-specification/release-types-packages-and-files/3.1-common-features-of-all-release-files/3.1.2-release-file-data-types.md)

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