Daylight Saving Time (DST)—often colloquially referred to as “daylight savings” or saved time—is the seasonal practice of advancing clocks by one hour during the warmer months so that darkness falls at a later clock time.
The primary goal of this time shift is to make better use of natural evening light. This is commonly achieved using the mnemonic “spring forward, fall back,” where clocks move ahead one hour in the late winter or spring and shift back one hour in the autumn to return to standard time. Key Facts About Daylight Saving Time
The Schedule: In regions like the United States and Canada, DST typically starts on the second Sunday in March and concludes on the first Sunday in November.
Global Participation: Only about one-third of the world’s countries observe DST. It is primarily practiced in North America, Europe, and parts of New Zealand and southeastern Australia.
The “S” Rule: The correct, official term is singular: Daylight Saving Time. Adding an “s” to make it “savings” is a common grammatical error.
The Energy Debate: Originally introduced during World War I to conserve coal and fuel, modern research shows it actually saves very little energy. Any electricity saved from turning on lights later is often canceled out by running air conditioning during warm summer evenings. Regions That Skip the Time Change
Not every territory participates in the biannual clock change. Major exceptions include: Daylight Saving Time | When, Definition, History, & Facts
6 May 2026 — When is Daylight Saving Time? Daylight Saving Time will start at 2 AM local time on March 8, 2026, when clocks will be set ahead ( Britannica