Time of Day (ToD)

Time of Day (ToD) refers to the representation of absolute time, typically including hours, minutes, seconds, and the corresponding date—also known as “wall clock time.” In network synchronization contexts, ToD is used for time-stamping events such as the arrival or departure of packets at a network interface. It is essential for accurate event logging, diagnostics, and precise time alignment in protocols like PTP (Precision Time Protocol).ToD can be maintained and distributed across systems to support time-aware applications, with common implementations using 64-bit or 96-bit formats depending on the synchronization role (e.g., transparent, ordinary, or boundary clocks).