What is a Unix timestamp and why is it important?

A Unix timestamp (also called epoch time) is the number of seconds elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC. It's crucial because it provides a universal, timezone-independent way to represent time in computer systems. Every programming language, database, and API can work with Unix timestamps, making them the standard for time representation in software development.

What's the difference between seconds and milliseconds timestamps?

Traditional Unix timestamps use seconds precision (10 digits, like 1609459200), while some systems like JavaScript use milliseconds precision (13 digits, like 1609459200000). To convert: multiply seconds by 1000 to get milliseconds, or divide milliseconds by 1000 to get seconds.

How do I handle timestamps in different programming languages?

Each language handles timestamps differently: JavaScript uses `new Date(timestamp * 1000)`, Python uses `datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp)`, PHP uses `date('Y-m-d H:i:s', timestamp)`, and SQL uses `FROM_UNIXTIME(timestamp)`. Always check if your language expects seconds or milliseconds.

Why do I see different times when converting the same timestamp?

Unix timestamps are always in UTC, but when displayed, they're converted to your local timezone. The same timestamp (1609459200) will show as different local times depending on your timezone: 12:00 AM UTC, 7:00 PM EST (UTC-5), or 1:00 AM CET (UTC+1).

What are some common timestamp values I should know?

Important timestamps include: 0 (January 1, 1970 - Unix epoch start), 946684800 (January 1, 2000 - Y2K), 1000000000 (September 9, 2001), 1234567890 (February 13, 2009 - famous timestamp), 1609459200 (January 1, 2021), and 2147483647 (January 19, 2038 - 32-bit timestamp limit).

How do I convert timestamps in Excel or Google Sheets?

In Excel: `=DATE(1970,1,1)+A1/86400` (where A1 contains the timestamp). In Google Sheets: `=DATE(1970,1,1)+A1/86400` or use our converter to get the date, then paste it into your spreadsheet. Remember to format the cell as a date after conversion.

Can I convert timestamps before 1970 or after 2038?

Yes! Negative timestamps represent dates before January 1, 1970. However, be aware of the Year 2038 problem: 32-bit systems can only handle timestamps up to 2147483647 (January 19, 2038). Modern 64-bit systems support dates far into the future.

How accurate are timestamp conversions?

Our converter is precise to the second for standard Unix timestamps and to the millisecond for extended timestamps. The accuracy depends on your input: 10-digit timestamps are accurate to seconds, while 13-digit timestamps are accurate to milliseconds.

Timestamp Converter

Convert Unix timestamps to dates and back

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date

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Common Unix timestamps for quick conversion

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Convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates

Unix Timestamp (seconds or milliseconds)

10-digit = seconds · 13-digit = milliseconds

How it works: Unix timestamps count seconds (or milliseconds) since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC (the Unix Epoch). 10-digit numbers are seconds, 13-digit are milliseconds. Dates are converted using the browser's local timezone unless specified as UTC.

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