Unix Timestamp Converter

Convert timestamps to dates and vice versa

About This Tool

Our Unix timestamp converter provides instant bi-directional conversion between Unix timestamps (epoch time) and human-readable dates. Whether you're debugging server logs, working with APIs, analyzing database records, or developing time-sensitive applications, this free tool makes timestamp conversions effortless with support for ISO 8601 date format and current timestamp generation.

What is a Unix Timestamp?

A Unix timestamp (also called epoch time or POSIX time) represents the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC (the Unix epoch). This standardized time representation is used universally across operating systems, programming languages, and databases for consistent timekeeping. Unix timestamps are always in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) and don't account for time zones or daylight saving time, making them ideal for storing and transmitting time data across different systems and geographic locations. The timestamp is stored as a simple integer, making it efficient for storage, comparison, and calculation.

Key Features

  • Bi-Directional Conversion: Convert Unix timestamps to dates or dates to timestamps seamlessly
  • Current Timestamp Button: Get the current Unix timestamp and corresponding ISO date with one click
  • ISO 8601 Format: Dates displayed in standardized ISO 8601 format for universal compatibility
  • Instant Conversion: Real-time conversion as you input values without server round trips
  • UTC Time Zone: All conversions use UTC to match Unix timestamp standard
  • Copy Functionality: Easy copying of converted values for use in code or documentation
  • Error Handling: Clear error messages for invalid timestamps or date formats

Common Use Cases

Unix timestamps are fundamental to modern software development and system administration, appearing in countless scenarios.

  • Log File Analysis: Convert timestamps in server logs to readable dates for debugging and troubleshooting
  • Database Queries: Work with timestamp columns in databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB
  • API Development: Parse and generate timestamps for RESTful APIs and webhook payloads
  • System Administration: Interpret Unix file modification times and system logs
  • Cron Jobs: Schedule tasks and understand cron execution times in Unix systems
  • Data Migration: Convert between different time representations during database migrations
  • Testing: Generate specific timestamps for unit tests and integration tests

How to Use

Converting between timestamps and dates is simple with our intuitive dual-input interface.

  1. Click "Get Current Timestamp" to populate both fields with the current time for reference
  2. To convert timestamp to date: Enter a Unix timestamp (seconds since 1970) and click "Convert to Date"
  3. To convert date to timestamp: Enter an ISO 8601 date string and click "Convert to Timestamp"
  4. View the converted result in the opposite field immediately
  5. Copy the result to use in your application, script, or documentation

Understanding the Unix Epoch

The Unix epoch (January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC) was chosen as the starting point for Unix time when the Unix operating system was developed. This arbitrary starting point provides a convenient reference for calculating time intervals and comparing dates. Timestamps before the epoch are represented as negative numbers. The standard 32-bit signed integer Unix timestamp will overflow on January 19, 2038, at 03:14:07 UTC (the Year 2038 problem), which is why modern systems use 64-bit timestamps that won't overflow for billions of years.

Timestamp Best Practices

Always store timestamps in UTC to avoid time zone confusion and daylight saving time issues. Convert to local time zones only when displaying to users. Use 64-bit integers for timestamp storage to avoid the Year 2038 problem. When working with timestamps in different programming languages, be aware that some use seconds (Unix standard) while others like JavaScript use milliseconds - divide by 1000 when converting JavaScript timestamps. For user-facing dates, always display time zones explicitly to prevent confusion. When comparing times across systems, Unix timestamps provide a universal reference point that eliminates time zone complexities.

ISO 8601 Date Format

ISO 8601 is the international standard for date and time representation. Our converter uses the format YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ss.sssZ where YYYY is the year, MM is the month (01-12), DD is the day (01-31), HH is the hour (00-23), mm is minutes (00-59), ss is seconds (00-59), sss is milliseconds, and Z indicates UTC time zone. This format is unambiguous, sortable lexicographically, and widely supported across programming languages and databases, making it ideal for data exchange and storage.