What is a Unix timestamp?

A Unix timestamp (or epoch time) is the number of seconds elapsed since midnight UTC on January 1, 1970. It's the standard way computers store and transmit time independently of timezones.

What's the difference between seconds and milliseconds timestamps?

Unix time in seconds is typically a 10-digit number (e.g., 1700000000). Milliseconds (13 digits) and microseconds (16 digits) are also common, especially in JavaScript (Date.now() returns milliseconds).

When does a 32-bit Unix timestamp overflow?

A signed 32-bit integer overflows at 2,147,483,647 — which is 03:14:07 UTC on January 19, 2038 (the Year 2038 problem). Modern systems use 64-bit timestamps, which won't overflow for billions of years.

How do I get the current Unix timestamp?

In JavaScript: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000). In Python: int(time.time()). In SQL: UNIX_TIMESTAMP() (MySQL) or EXTRACT(EPOCH FROM NOW()) (PostgreSQL).

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Unix Timestamp Converter

Convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and back — supports seconds, milliseconds, and microseconds.

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About this tool

Convert between Unix timestamps (seconds since 1970-01-01T00:00:00Z) and human-readable dates in any timezone. Supports Unix time in seconds, milliseconds, and microseconds. Useful for debugging APIs, log files, and database timestamps.

How to use

1 Paste a Unix timestamp (10, 13, or 16 digits) into the top field to convert to a date.
2 Or enter a date and time to convert to a Unix timestamp.
3 Select your preferred timezone for the human-readable output.
4 Click Copy to copy either value.

Frequently Asked Questions

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