Timestamp Converter
Convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and convert dates back to Unix timestamps. Includes live current timestamp.
Unix Timestamp → Human Date
Date → Unix Timestamp
What Is a Unix Timestamp?
A Unix timestamp is an integer representing the number of seconds (or milliseconds) elapsed since the Unix epoch: midnight on January 1, 1970, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This format is the universal computing standard for representing a specific moment in time because it is simple, compact, and completely time-zone neutral. Unix timestamps appear in database columns, server and application log files, HTTP headers, JWT token expiry fields, and API responses from virtually every web service.
Understanding Unix timestamps is fundamental for any developer who works with data, APIs, or systems programming. Log analysis, event tracking, time-series databases, caching systems, and distributed systems all use timestamps as their primary mechanism for ordering and correlating events across different services and servers running in different time zones.
Seconds vs Milliseconds — the Most Common Mistake
Unix traditionally measures time in seconds, producing a 10-digit number. JavaScript Date.now() and many modern APIs return milliseconds, producing a 13-digit number. Passing milliseconds into a function that expects seconds produces a date approximately 317 years in the future. Passing seconds into a function that expects milliseconds produces a date in January 1970. A quick rule of thumb: 10 digits means seconds, 13 digits means milliseconds.
A timestamp converter lets you translate between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates in both directions — converting a raw timestamp from a database or API into a readable date and time, and converting a specific date and time back into a Unix timestamp for use in queries or API parameters. It shows the result in UTC, local time, and ISO 8601 format simultaneously, eliminating the ambiguity of time zone conversions.
How to Use Timestamp Converter
- 1
Copy the current Unix timestamp from the live counter at the top.
- 2
To convert a timestamp to a date: paste it in the top section and choose seconds or milliseconds.
- 3
To convert a date to a timestamp: use the date-time picker in the bottom section.
- 4
Results update automatically as you type.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Unix timestamp?
A Unix timestamp is the number of seconds (or milliseconds) elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC. It is a universal way to represent a moment in time, used widely in databases, APIs, and logs.
How do I convert a Unix timestamp to a readable date?
Enter the timestamp in the "Unix Timestamp → Human Date" section, select Seconds or Milliseconds, and the UTC date, local date, and ISO 8601 format are shown instantly.
How do I get the current Unix timestamp?
The Current Unix Timestamp at the top of the page updates every second and shows the current time in Unix seconds. Click Copy to grab it.