What is the difference between AM/PM and 24-hour time?
Quick Answer: AM/PM time splits the day into two 12-hour periods (morning and afternoon/evening), while 24-hour time runs from 00:00 to 23:59 without repeating numbers. AM/PM uses numbers 1 to 12 twice, but 24-hour time counts straight through the full day.
AM/PM stands for "Ante Meridiem" (before noon) and "Post Meridiem" (after noon). It labels hours from 12 midnight to 11:59 before noon as AM, and from 12 noon to 11:59 at night as PM. This format is common in the US and some other countries.
24-hour time is popular worldwide, especially in military, transportation, and technical fields. It starts at 00:00 (midnight) and goes up to 23:59. This system avoids confusion since each hour number is unique throughout the day.
In short, AM/PM repeats numbers with a label for morning or evening, while 24-hour time uses a continuous count to clearly show the exact hour of the day.