Epoch Converter

Convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates. Supports milliseconds and seconds precision. Perfect for developers working with timestamps and system logs.

About Unix Timestamps

A Unix timestamp (also known as Epoch time, POSIX time, or Unix time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 (midnight UTC/GMT), not counting leap seconds. Unix timestamps are widely used in computer systems and programming.

Common Formats

Seconds Format

  • Standard Unix timestamp
  • Number of seconds since epoch
  • Example: 1625097600 = 2021-07-01 00:00:00 UTC

Milliseconds Format

  • Common in JavaScript and modern systems
  • Number of milliseconds since epoch
  • Example: 1625097600000 = 2021-07-01 00:00:00 UTC

Common Uses

Programming

  • Database timestamps
  • API responses
  • Log files
  • Event scheduling

System Administration

  • Log analysis
  • System synchronization
  • Cron jobs
  • Backup timestamps

Tips for Working with Timestamps

  1. Be aware of timezone differences
  2. Consider milliseconds vs seconds
  3. Watch for integer overflow
  4. Remember leap seconds aren't counted
  5. Use appropriate precision for your needs

Notes

  • The Unix epoch begins at 00:00:00 UTC on January 1, 1970
  • Negative timestamps represent dates before 1970
  • Most systems use signed 32-bit integers, which will overflow in 2038
  • Modern systems often use 64-bit integers to avoid the 2038 problem