How should date and time values be formatted for certain manipulations?

The ISO8601 format is widely recommended for date and time values in data manipulation due to its unambiguous and standardized structure. This format, represented as yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss.SSSZ UTC, ensures consistency across different systems and programming languages, which is vital for accurate data exchange and processing.

One of the key advantages of using this format is its ability to represent both local time and UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), making it effective for applications that require time zone considerations. The inclusion of the time component down to milliseconds (SSS) adds precision, which is crucial in contexts like logging events or coordinating tasks across different time zones.

Furthermore, the use of the 'T' in the format helps to clearly distinguish between the date and time segments, reducing ambiguity that can occur in formats that mix date and time without clear separation. This clarity supports better sorting, querying, and manipulation of date/time data in databases and applications.

Using formats like DD/MM/YYYY or MM-DD-YYYY may lead to misinterpretation—especially in international contexts where different conventions are used. The ISO8601 standard effectively mitigates these issues, making it the go-to format for developers and data professionals. Additionally, YYYY/MM/DD does not conform