What is the difference between seconds and milliseconds timestamps?

Unix timestamps in seconds are 10 digits (e.g., 1704067200), while milliseconds timestamps are 13 digits (e.g., 1704067200000). Milliseconds provide more precision. JavaScript uses milliseconds, while many server-side languages use seconds.

What is the Unix Epoch?

The Unix Epoch is January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC. It's the reference point from which Unix timestamps are calculated. Dates before this time have negative timestamps.

How do I get the current Unix timestamp?

The current Unix timestamp is displayed at the top of this tool and updates in real-time. In JavaScript, use Date.now() for milliseconds or Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) for seconds.

Why do programmers use Unix timestamps?

Unix timestamps are timezone-independent, easy to store (single number), simple to compare and sort, and can be easily converted to any timezone. They avoid timezone confusion when storing dates in databases or transferring between systems.

Epoch Timestamp Converter

Convert Unix timestamps to dates and dates to Unix timestamps

Use this free Epoch converter to convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates or convert dates back to Unix timestamps. Supports both seconds and milliseconds. Shows UTC, local time, ISO 8601, and relative formats. 100% client-side — your data never leaves your browser.

Current Unix Timestamp

Seconds —

Milliseconds —

Enter Unix Timestamp:

Enter a timestamp in seconds (10 digits) or milliseconds (13 digits). Negative values for dates before 1970.

Example Timestamps

Select Date and Time:

Date

Time

Timezone

Unix Timestamp

Seconds

—

Milliseconds

—

Code Snippets

// JavaScript
const timestamp = 0;
const date = new Date(timestamp * 1000);
console.log(date.toISOString());

Quick Reference

Common Timestamps

`0`	Jan 1, 1970 (Epoch)
`86400`	1 day in seconds
`604800`	1 week in seconds
`2592000`	30 days in seconds
`31536000`	1 year in seconds

Format Detection

10 digits	Seconds (Unix standard)
13 digits	Milliseconds (JavaScript)
Negative	Before Jan 1, 1970
Max 32-bit	2147483647 (Y2K38)

Understanding Unix Timestamps

What is a Unix Timestamp?

A Unix timestamp (also known as Epoch time, POSIX time, or Unix Epoch time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC. This reference point is called the Unix Epoch.

For example, the timestamp 1704067200 represents January 1, 2024 at 00:00:00 UTC. Unix timestamps are timezone-independent, making them ideal for storing dates in databases and APIs.

Seconds vs Milliseconds

Unix timestamps can be expressed in two common formats:

Seconds (10 digits): The traditional Unix format. Used by most server-side languages like PHP, Python, and Ruby. Example: 1704067200
Milliseconds (13 digits): Provides more precision. Used by JavaScript's Date.now() and Java. Example: 1704067200000

This converter auto-detects which format you're using based on the number of digits.

The Year 2038 Problem (Y2K38)

Systems using 32-bit signed integers to store Unix timestamps will overflow on January 19, 2038 at 03:14:07 UTC. At this moment, the timestamp reaches 2,147,483,647 (the maximum 32-bit signed integer), and incrementing it causes overflow.

Modern systems use 64-bit integers, extending the range to approximately 292 billion years in either direction — more than enough for any practical application.

Why Use Unix Timestamps?

Timezone independence: A single number represents the same moment everywhere in the world.
Easy comparison: Simply compare two numbers to determine which date is earlier or later.
Storage efficiency: A single integer uses less space than date strings.
No ambiguity: Avoids confusion from different date formats (MM/DD vs DD/MM).
Easy arithmetic: Add or subtract seconds to calculate future or past dates.

Getting Current Timestamp in Code

Here's how to get the current Unix timestamp in various programming languages:

JavaScript: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) (seconds) or Date.now() (milliseconds)
Python: import time; int(time.time())
PHP: time()
Java: System.currentTimeMillis() / 1000
Go: time.Now().Unix()
Ruby: Time.now.to_i

Unix Timestamp FAQ

What is a Unix timestamp?

A Unix timestamp (also called Epoch time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC. It's a universal way to represent time as a single number, making it easy to store, compare, and transfer dates between systems.

How do I convert a Unix timestamp to a date?

Enter your timestamp in the converter above and click Convert. The tool automatically detects if it's in seconds or milliseconds and displays the date in multiple formats including UTC, local time, ISO 8601, and relative time.

What's the difference between seconds and milliseconds?

Seconds timestamps are 10 digits (e.g., 1704067200), while milliseconds are 13 digits (e.g., 1704067200000). JavaScript uses milliseconds, while most server languages use seconds. This tool handles both automatically.

Can I convert dates before 1970?

Yes! Dates before the Unix Epoch (January 1, 1970) are represented as negative timestamps. For example, -86400 represents December 31, 1969. This converter fully supports negative values.

What is the Year 2038 problem?

The Y2K38 problem affects systems using 32-bit signed integers for timestamps. On January 19, 2038 at 03:14:07 UTC, the timestamp 2,147,483,647 overflows. Modern 64-bit systems are not affected.

Is my data safe with this tool?

Absolutely. This converter runs 100% in your browser using JavaScript. No data is sent to any server. All conversions happen locally on your device.

What is ISO 8601 format?

ISO 8601 is an international standard for date/time representation: YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ss.sssZ. The 'T' separates date and time, and 'Z' indicates UTC. Example: 2024-01-01T00:00:00.000Z.

Why do developers use Unix timestamps?

Unix timestamps are timezone-independent, easy to compare (just compare numbers), efficient to store, and avoid date format ambiguity. They're the standard for APIs, databases, and log files.