what is daylight savings

Daylight saving time (DST) is the practice of setting clocks forward by one hour during the warmer months of the year to extend evening daylight, then setting clocks back again in the cooler months to standard time. This adjustment shifts an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening, allowing people to have more daylight during typical waking and working hours in the summer. Clocks are usually set forward in spring ("spring forward") and set back in fall ("fall back"). The primary purpose is to make better use of daylight, reduce energy consumption, and align daily activities with daylight hours. DST is observed in many countries mostly in temperate regions, where the length of daylight varies significantly with seasons. It typically begins in late March or early April and ends in late October or early November depending on the country. For example, in the United States, DST starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November, with clocks set forward at 2:00 am to 3:00 am at the start and set back at 2:00 am to 1:00 am at the end. Daylight saving time is less relevant near the equator, where daylight duration remains fairly consistent year-round. The idea of DST dates back to proposals by Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century and was implemented more widely during World War I and II to conserve fuel and energy. People generally have an extra hour of daylight in the evening during DST, which can benefit leisure activities and reduce the need for artificial lighting.