---
title: Generalized Time
description: Values of this syntax hold generalized times, character strings representing a date and time.
component: pingds
version: 8.1
page_id: pingds:schemaref:s-GeneralizedTime
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/schemaref/s-GeneralizedTime.html
---

# Generalized Time

Values of this syntax hold generalized times, character strings representing a date and time.

The syntax follows this ABNF:

```
GeneralizedTime = century year month day hour
[ minute [ second / leap-second ] ]
[ fraction ]
g-time-zone

century = 2(%x30-39)                             ; "00" to "99"
year    = 2(%x30-39)                             ; "00" to "99"
month   = ( %x30 %x31-39 )                       ; "01" (January) to "09"
/ ( %x31 %x30-32 )                     ; "10" to "12"
day     = ( %x30 %x31-39 )                       ; "01" to "09"
/ ( %x31-32 %x30-39 )                  ; "10" to "29"
/ ( %x33 %x30-31 )                     ; "30" to "31"
hour    = ( %x30-31 %x30-39 ) / ( %x32 %x30-33 ) ; "00" to "23"
minute  = %x30-35 %x30-39                        ; "00" to "59"

second      = ( %x30-35 %x30-39 )                ; "00" to "59"
leap-second = ( %x36 %x30 )                      ; "60"

fraction        = ( DOT / COMMA ) 1*(%x30-39)
g-time-zone     = %x5A                           ; "Z"
/ g-differential
g-differential  = ( MINUS / PLUS ) hour [ minute ]
MINUS           = %x2D                           ; minus sign ("-")
PLUS            = %x2B                           ; plus sign ("+")
```

Where the ABNF allows invalid times, such as Feb. 31, 2017, the values are considered invalid.

When the "Z" form of the time zone is used, the time value represents universal coordinated time. Otherwise, it represents a local time in the time zone indicated by the `g-differential`.

Example: `201702151036Z` meaning 10:36 AM, February 15, 2017 universal coordinated time.

The syntax corresponds to the `GeneralizedTime` ASN.1 type, with the exception that local times without a differential are not permitted.

|               |                                                           |
| ------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| *OID*         | 1.3.6.1.4.1.1466.115.121.1.24                             |
| *Description* | Generalized Time                                          |
| *Origin*      | [RFC 4517](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc4517) |