A time zone is a region of the Earth that has the same standard time. The world is divided into 24 time zones, each typically one hour apart, based on the position of the Earth relative to the Sun. This system helps coordinate activities across different areas, ensuring that people can communicate and schedule events effectively. Time zones are often expressed as offsets from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). For example, UTC-5 means the local time is five hours behind UTC. Some regions also observe Daylight Saving Time, which shifts the clock forward by one hour during warmer months to make better use of daylight.