What Is a Unix Timestamp?
A Unix timestamp (also known as Epoch time or POSIX time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC. It is widely used in programming and databases to represent a specific point in time.
Why Use Unix Timestamps?
- Timezone-independent: A single number represents the same moment everywhere in the world.
- Easy to compare: Simple integer comparison tells you which event came first.
- Compact storage: A single integer is more efficient than a formatted date string.
- Language-agnostic: Every programming language can work with Unix timestamps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this tool support millisecond timestamps?
Yes. If you enter a number larger than 10 trillion, it will be automatically interpreted as milliseconds (used by JavaScript, Java, etc.).
What timezone does this tool use?
The date conversion uses your browser's local timezone. The timezone offset is displayed alongside the result.