What is a Unix timestamp?

A Unix timestamp is an integer representing the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC, known as the Unix epoch. A Unix timestamp converter translates this compact number into a human-readable date and time, and vice versa, making it easy to work with time values in code and databases.

Why do systems use Unix time instead of regular dates?

Unix time is timezone-independent, monotonically increasing, and trivially comparable with simple integer arithmetic. Storing and sorting timestamps as Unix integers is far more efficient than parsing locale-specific date strings, which is why Unix timestamp values are the standard in databases, APIs, log files, and distributed systems.

Epoch time and Unix time refer to the same concept — the number of seconds since the Unix epoch (1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC). The term "epoch" comes from computing history: Unix developers chose that date as the reference point when defining the time_t type. A Unix timestamp converter handles both seconds-based and milliseconds-based epoch values.

What is the Y2038 problem?

The Y2038 problem (also called the Unix Millennium Bug) occurs because many legacy systems store Unix timestamps in a signed 32-bit integer, which overflows on January 19, 2038 at 03:14:07 UTC. Modern systems use 64-bit integers for Unix timestamps, which will not overflow for approximately 292 billion years, making the issue irrelevant for current software.

How do I get the current Unix timestamp?

This Unix timestamp converter displays the live current timestamp in real time at the top of the page. In code, you can get it with `Date.now()` in JavaScript (milliseconds), `time.time()` in Python (float seconds), `System.currentTimeMillis()` in Java (milliseconds), or `time()` in PHP and C (seconds).

Unix Timestamp Converter — Free Epoch Time Tool

Unix Timestamp Converter

Convert Unix timestamps to human dates and vice versa.

Processed locally in your browser

Convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and dates back to timestamps with this free online converter.

Current Unix Timestamp

—

Updates every second

Timestamp to Date

Unix timestamp (seconds or milliseconds)

Date to Timestamp

Date and time (local timezone)

Code Examples

// Current timestamp
Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000);

// From timestamp to date
new Date(0 * 1000);

// From date to timestamp
Math.floor(new Date().getTime() / 1000);

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How to Use

Convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and dates back to timestamps with this free online converter.

View the live clock. The current Unix timestamp is displayed at the top of the page and updates every second — useful for grabbing the current epoch value quickly.
Convert a timestamp. Enter a Unix timestamp (seconds or milliseconds — the tool auto-detects) into the input field. The corresponding date and time appear instantly in multiple formats: ISO 8601, RFC 2822, local time, and relative time.
Convert a date. Pick a date and time using the date picker or type it manually. The tool generates the corresponding Unix timestamp in seconds and milliseconds.
Copy the values. Use the copy buttons to grab any format — timestamp, ISO string, or local date — for use in your code, API calls, or database queries.

Unix timestamps are the universal way to store and compare time values in programming. This converter handles both seconds-based (10 digits) and milliseconds-based (13 digits) timestamps automatically. All processing runs in your browser.

Features

✓Live current timestamp
✓Timestamp to date conversion
✓Date to timestamp conversion
✓Multiple output formats
✓Relative time display
✓Millisecond detection

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Unix timestamp?: A Unix timestamp is an integer representing the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC, known as the Unix epoch. A Unix timestamp converter translates this compact number into a human-readable date and time, and vice versa, making it easy to work with time values in code and databases.
Why do systems use Unix time instead of regular dates?: Unix time is timezone-independent, monotonically increasing, and trivially comparable with simple integer arithmetic. Storing and sorting timestamps as Unix integers is far more efficient than parsing locale-specific date strings, which is why Unix timestamp values are the standard in databases, APIs, log files, and distributed systems.
What is epoch time?: Epoch time and Unix time refer to the same concept — the number of seconds since the Unix epoch (1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC). The term "epoch" comes from computing history: Unix developers chose that date as the reference point when defining the time_t type. A Unix timestamp converter handles both seconds-based and milliseconds-based epoch values.
What is the Y2038 problem?: The Y2038 problem (also called the Unix Millennium Bug) occurs because many legacy systems store Unix timestamps in a signed 32-bit integer, which overflows on January 19, 2038 at 03:14:07 UTC. Modern systems use 64-bit integers for Unix timestamps, which will not overflow for approximately 292 billion years, making the issue irrelevant for current software.
How do I get the current Unix timestamp?: This Unix timestamp converter displays the live current timestamp in real time at the top of the page. In code, you can get it with `Date.now()` in JavaScript (milliseconds), `time.time()` in Python (float seconds), `System.currentTimeMillis()` in Java (milliseconds), or `time()` in PHP and C (seconds).