Why Does Go\'s `time.Parse()` Fail with Ambiguous Timezone Abbreviations?

Time.Parse() Cannot Process Timezone Information Due to Ambiguous Abbreviation

The time.Parse() function, when attempting to interpret timestamps with timezone abbreviations (e.g., "MST"), encounters some limitations. Specifically, if the abbreviated timezone is not explicitly defined in the current location or if it is ambiguous (such as "IST," which can represent multiple timezones), the function assumes a fabrication location with zero offset.

This behavior results in a discrepancy when parsing and comparing timestamps with different timezone abbreviations. For example, in the provided code:

t, err := time.Parse("2006-01-02 MST", "2018-05-11 IST")
t2, err := time.Parse("2006-01-02 MST", "2018-05-11 UTC")

Despite representing different time instants in their respective timezones, both "2018-05-11 IST" and "2018-05-11 UTC" are parsed by time.Parse() as having the same zero offset. Consequently, their Unix timestamps are identical, indicating the same time value.

To overcome this issue, consider using a time layout with a numeric zone offset, such as "-0700" for a seven-hour difference from UTC. Alternatively, consider utilizing time.ParseInLocation() with a manually constructed FixedZone or loading a specific timezone location (e.g., "Asia/Kolkata" for Indian IST). These approaches provide more precise control over timezone handling and ensure accurate time parsing.

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