Unix Timestamp Converter
Seconds (and milliseconds) elapsed since Jan 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC
What Is a Unix Timestamp?
A unix timestamp (also called epoch time or POSIX time) is the number of seconds elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC — the Unix Epoch. It is the standard for tracking time in software: databases, log files, REST APIs, authentication tokens, and virtually every programming language use unix time internally.
Timestamp to Date Conversion
Paste any unix timestamp into the Timestamp → Date field and click Convert. This epoch converter automatically detects whether the value is in seconds (10 digits) or milliseconds (13 digits) and shows the equivalent date and time in both UTC and your local timezone. Use it to decode timestamps from API responses, database records, or server logs.
Date to Unix Timestamp
The Date → Timestamp section converts any calendar date and time into its corresponding unix time value. Choose whether to interpret the date as UTC or local time — this matters when writing database queries or constructing JWT tokens. Both the seconds and milliseconds values are shown with one-click copy buttons.
Seconds vs. Milliseconds
Most Unix systems and databases store timestamps in seconds (e.g., 1711900800). JavaScript's Date.now() and many modern APIs return milliseconds (e.g., 1711900800000). This unix timestamp converter detects the format automatically and handles both. The linux timestamp converter behavior is identical — linux and unix timestamps use the same epoch.
The Year 2038 Problem
Older 32-bit systems store timestamps as a signed 32-bit integer, which overflows on January 19, 2038. This unix time converter uses JavaScript's 64-bit numbers and the native Date API, handling dates well beyond year 9999 with no Y2038 issue.
Related Tools
To convert time between cities and see what a UTC timestamp means in different time zones, use the Time Zone Converter. To calculate the number of days between two dates, see the Days Between Dates calculator.