⏰ Unix Timestamp Converter
Convert Unix timestamp (epoch time) to human-readable date and time, or convert date to timestamp. Support for seconds and milliseconds. Free online converter with timezone support.
Enter timestamp in seconds (e.g., 1609459200)
What is a Unix Timestamp?
A Unix timestamp (also called epoch time or POSIX time) is a system for describing instants in time. It represents the number of seconds (or milliseconds) that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC, not counting leap seconds. This date is known as the Unix epoch.
Unix timestamps are widely used in computer systems, databases, and programming because they provide a simple, unambiguous way to represent dates and times. They're timezone-independent (stored in UTC) and easy to compare, calculate with, and store.
How to Use Our Unix Timestamp Converter
- Choose Conversion Mode: Select "Timestamp → Date" to convert a Unix timestamp to a readable date, or "Date → Timestamp" to convert a date to a Unix timestamp.
- Enter Your Value: For timestamp mode, enter the Unix timestamp (in seconds or milliseconds). For date mode, select or enter a date and optional time.
- Select Timezone: Choose your preferred timezone for the date display. The timestamp itself is always in UTC.
- View Results: See the converted value along with multiple date formats (ISO, US, EU, RFC 2822, UTC string) and additional information like day of week, day of year, and leap year status.
- Copy Results: Click the copy buttons to copy any format to your clipboard for use in your projects.
Common Use Cases
💻 Programming & Development
Convert timestamps from APIs, databases, or log files to human-readable dates for debugging, development, or data analysis. Essential for working with Unix-based systems.
📊 Data Analysis
Convert timestamps in datasets, CSV files, or databases to readable dates for analysis, reporting, or visualization in spreadsheets and BI tools.
🔍 Log Analysis
Decode timestamps from server logs, application logs, or system logs to understand when events occurred. Critical for troubleshooting and debugging.
📅 Date Calculations
Convert dates to timestamps for easy mathematical operations (adding/subtracting seconds), then convert back to dates. Useful for scheduling and time-based calculations.
Understanding Timestamp Formats
Seconds vs Milliseconds
Unix timestamps can be represented in two formats:
- Seconds: The number of seconds since the Unix epoch (e.g., 1609459200). This is the standard format used in Unix/Linux systems.
- Milliseconds: The number of milliseconds since the Unix epoch (e.g., 1609459200000). Commonly used in JavaScript, Java, and some APIs.
Our converter automatically detects and handles both formats. Make sure to select the correct unit for accurate conversion.
Important Timestamps
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between seconds and milliseconds?
Seconds timestamps are the standard Unix format (e.g., 1609459200), while milliseconds timestamps are 1000 times larger (e.g., 1609459200000). JavaScript's Date.now() returns milliseconds, while most Unix systems use seconds. Our converter handles both formats.
Why is the timestamp always in UTC?
Unix timestamps are always stored in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) to avoid timezone confusion. When you convert a timestamp to a date, you can choose any timezone for display, but the timestamp value itself is timezone-independent.
What is the Year 2038 Problem?
On January 19, 2038, 32-bit signed integer timestamps will overflow. The maximum value is 2,147,483,647 seconds, which represents this date. Systems using 64-bit integers don't have this limitation and can represent dates far into the future.
Can I convert negative timestamps?
Yes! Negative timestamps represent dates before the Unix epoch (before January 1, 1970). This is useful for historical dates or dates in the past relative to the epoch.
How accurate are Unix timestamps?
Timestamps in seconds have 1-second precision. Millisecond timestamps have 1-millisecond precision. For most applications, this is sufficient. For higher precision (microseconds or nanoseconds), specialized formats are used.
Is my data stored or transmitted?
No, all conversions happen entirely in your browser. We never see, store, or transmit any of your timestamps or dates. Your privacy is completely protected.