Unix Timestamp Converter
Convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates with this free online tool - perfect for developers, data analysts, and system administrators
Conversion Options
About This Unix Timestamp Converter
Our free online Unix Timestamp Converter tool allows you to quickly and accurately convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates and times. This tool is designed to be simple and easy to use, providing instant conversions for developers, data analysts, system administrators, and anyone who works with Unix time.
Understanding Unix Timestamps
A Unix timestamp (also known as POSIX time or Epoch time) is a way to track time as a running total of seconds. This count starts at the Unix Epoch on January 1st, 1970, at UTC. Therefore, the Unix timestamp is merely the number of seconds between a particular date and the Unix Epoch.
- Unix Timestamp in Seconds - The traditional Unix timestamp, counting seconds since the Epoch.
- Unix Timestamp in Milliseconds - A more precise version often used in modern programming languages like JavaScript, counting milliseconds since the Epoch.
Common Uses for This Converter
- Software Development - Converting between human-readable dates and Unix timestamps for programming tasks
- Database Management - Working with timestamp data stored in databases
- Log Analysis - Interpreting timestamps in log files
- API Development - Working with APIs that use Unix timestamps
- System Administration - Troubleshooting time-related issues in systems
- Data Science - Processing time-series data
Benefits of Our Converter
- Instant Results - Get conversions in real-time as you type
- Multiple Time Formats - View converted dates in various formats (UTC, ISO, local time)
- Support for Both Seconds and Milliseconds - Convert timestamps in both common formats
- Current Time Feature - Quickly get the current Unix timestamp or date
- No Registration Required - Use the tool without creating an account
- Free to Use - All features are completely free with no hidden costs
- Works Offline - Once loaded, the tool functions without an internet connection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Unix timestamp?
A Unix timestamp is a way to track time as a running total of seconds starting from the Unix Epoch on January 1st, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC. It's a single number that represents a specific point in time, regardless of time zones or calendar systems.
Why do we use Unix timestamps?
Unix timestamps are used because they provide a standardized way to represent time across different systems and programming languages. They're compact (just a single number), easy to compare and sort, and don't require complex time zone or daylight saving time calculations.
What's the difference between Unix timestamps in seconds and milliseconds?
The traditional Unix timestamp counts seconds since the Epoch, while the millisecond version counts milliseconds for more precision. The millisecond timestamp is 1000 times larger than the second timestamp for the same point in time. For example, if the Unix timestamp in seconds is 1609459200, then in milliseconds it would be 1609459200000.
How do I convert a date to a Unix timestamp programmatically?
In JavaScript, you can use Date.getTime()/1000 to get the Unix timestamp in seconds, or Date.getTime() for milliseconds. In Python, you can use import time; time.mktime(date.timetuple()). Most programming languages have built-in functions or libraries to handle this conversion.
Will Unix timestamps ever run out?
32-bit Unix timestamps will overflow on January 19, 2038 (known as the "Year 2038 problem"), but 64-bit timestamps will work until the year 292,277,026,596. Most modern systems now use 64-bit timestamps, so this isn't an immediate concern for most applications.