Constant SPAN_CIVIL_SECONDS

const SPAN_CIVIL_SECONDS: i128 = _; // 631_107_417_600i128

The maximum number of seconds that can be expressed with a span.

All of our span types (except for years and months, since they have variable length even in civil datetimes) are defined in terms of this constant. The way it’s defined is a little odd, so let’s break it down.

Firstly, a span of seconds should be able to represent at least the complete span supported by Timestamp. Thus, it’s based off of UnixSeconds::LEN. That is, a span should be able to represent the value UnixSeconds::MAX - UnixSeconds::MIN.

Secondly, a span should also be able to account for any amount of possible time that a time zone offset might add or subtract to an Timestamp. This also means it can account for any difference between two civil::DateTime values.

Thirdly, we would like our span to be divisible by SECONDS_PER_CIVIL_DAY. This isn’t strictly required, but it makes defining boundaries a little smoother. If it weren’t divisible, then the lower bounds on some types would need to be adjusted by one.

Note that neither the existence of this constant nor defining our spans based on it impacts the correctness of doing arithmetic on zoned instants. Artihemetic on zoned instants still uses “civil” spans, but the length of time for some units (like a day) might vary. The arithmetic for zoned instants accounts for this explicitly. But it still must obey the limits set here.