The Eastern Time Zone (ET) is a time zone that is 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-5) during standard time and 4 hours behind (UTC-4) during daylight saving time. It covers parts of the eastern United States, including major cities like New York City, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. Daylight saving time typically begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. The Eastern Time Zone is one of the most populous time zones in North America, influencing business hours, television schedules, and travel across the region.