title: MySQL - TIMESTAMP field type automatically converts to UTC?
body: <p>What is the behavior of the TIMESTAMP field type in relation to timezones?</p>
  
  <p>Is any timestamp value inserted to that field inserted as is?</p>
  
  <p>Or does it assume that the timezone of a timestamp value that is inserted is in server local time and converts it UTC?</p>
  
  <p>EDIT:</p>
  
  <p>Here is my test</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p>I ran both PHP date() and MySQL's SELECT NOW() and they are outputting roughly equal timestamps. The results of both is not in UTC time.</p></li>
  <li><p>I tried inserting to a test table with the value for the TIMESTAMP field by gotten from PHP date()</p></li>
  <li><p>The value from PHP date() SHOULD have been converted to UTC. However, what I see in the database is not UTC. The value for the TIMESTAMP field is inserted as is.</p></li>
  </ul>