Hey folks! I'm working on a wallpaper in Wallpaper Engine and needed to switch the time format from 12-hour to 24-hour. I modified this line of code: `const hours12 = hours % 12 === 0 ? 12 : hours % 12;` by changing the last '12' to '24', and surprisingly, it worked! But I'm confused about why this change is effective. Can someone break it down for me?
3 Answers
You're on the right track! The `%` (modulo) operator will continue wrapping the number according to its relation to 12 or 24. Your original variable is in 24-hour format already, so it doesn’t really need alteration—this keeps the hours correct as they already fall within the expected range! Honestly, it's cool seeing you fiddle with code like that; it’s how we all start learning!
The reason it worked is all about the modulo operator. When you use `% 24`, any number from 0 to 23 will just return itself since it's less than 24. For example, `13 % 24 = 13` and `17 % 24 = 17`. But with `12`, things change—like `13 % 12 = 1`. So, you technically don't need that change; `hours` is already in 24-hour format!
So, does that mean I won't run into issues using it this way?
Actually, that won't work as intended since using ` % 12` is what allows the AM/PM distinction. Switching to `24` will return the same numbers for 1-23 but can lead to confusion in the PM hours. So, for displaying times correctly, you better stick with `12` for the 12-hour format!
But when I tried changing it, 6 PM displayed as 18, which seemed correct, right?
Thanks a lot for clarifying! It was a bit overwhelming trying to grasp all this. I really appreciate the guidance!