---
type: "datatype"
title: "instant"
datatype: "instant"
---
# instant

- [Datatypes](/datatypes)
- [Definitions](/datatypes-definitions#instant)
- [Examples](/datatypes-examples#instant)
- [Mappings](/datatypes-mappings#instant)
- [Profiles](/datatypes-profiles#instant)

## Primitive Details
- **Definition**: An instant in time - known at least to the second
- **Comments**: Note: This is intended for where precisely observed times are required, typically system logs etc., and not human-reported times - for them, see date and dateTime (which can be as precise as instant, but is not required to be) below. UTC offset is always required
- **XML Schema/Base**: `dateTime`
- **JSON Type**: `string`
- **Regex**: `([0-9]([0-9]([0-9][1-9]|[1-9]0)|[1-9]00)|[1-9]000)-(0[1-9]|1[0-2])-(0[1-9]|[1-2][0-9]|3[0-1])T([01][0-9]|2[0-3]):[0-5][0-9]:([0-5][0-9]|60)(\.[0-9]{1,9})?(Z|(\+|-)((0[0-9]|1[0-3]):[0-5][0-9]|14:00))`
- **Characteristics**: has-range is-continuous
- **v3 Mapping**: `TS`
- **v2 Mapping**: `DTM`