timestamp converter
Convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and vice versa.
A timestamp converter helps you convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates and times. This tool is essential for developers debugging timestamp issues, system administrators analyzing log files, database administrators working with timestamp data, and anyone who needs to understand or convert Unix timestamps. By using a timestamp converter, you can read log entries, debug time-related code, convert timestamps for display, and work with epoch time in various applications. The tool handles both seconds-based and milliseconds-based timestamps, automatically detecting the format and providing accurate conversions.
What is timestamp converter?
A Unix timestamp (also called epoch time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC, known as the Unix epoch. This standardized time representation is widely used in programming, databases, and system logs because it provides a consistent way to represent dates and times across different systems and time zones. Timestamps can be in seconds (10 digits) or milliseconds (13 digits). This converter transforms timestamps into human-readable ISO 8601 date format and vice versa, making it easy to work with time data in both formats.
Common use cases
- Log file analysis: Convert Unix timestamps in log files to readable dates for debugging and analysis
- API development: Convert between timestamps and dates when working with APIs that use Unix time
- Database queries: Convert timestamps stored in databases to readable dates for reports or displays
- Debugging: Understand timestamp values in code, error messages, or system outputs
- Data migration: Convert timestamps between different systems or formats during data migration
- Time-based calculations: Convert timestamps to dates for calculations, comparisons, or display purposes
Limitations and common mistakes
- The tool converts to UTC time. For local timezone display, you need to use a separate timezone converter
- Very large timestamps (far future dates) may not be accurately represented in all systems
- The tool assumes standard Unix epoch (January 1, 1970). Other epoch systems are not supported
- Date input uses local browser timezone for datetime-local inputs, which may differ from UTC
- Precision may be lost when converting very precise timestamps due to JavaScript date handling limitations
How to use this unix timestamp converter
- Select conversion mode: Timestamp to Date or Date to Timestamp
- For timestamp to date: Enter the Unix timestamp (seconds or milliseconds) and view the converted date
- For date to timestamp: Select a date and time, then view the corresponding Unix timestamp
- Use the "Use Current" button to quickly get the current timestamp
- Copy the result using the copy button for use in your projects
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Unix timestamp?
A Unix timestamp is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC (Unix epoch). It's a common way to represent dates in programming, databases, and system logs.
Which timezones are supported?
Unix timestamps are always in UTC. When converting to date, the result is shown in ISO 8601 format (UTC). To convert to your local timezone, use a separate timezone converter tool.
Does this support milliseconds?
Yes, the tool can handle both seconds (10 digits) and milliseconds (13 digits). When converting timestamp to date, it automatically detects the format based on the number of digits.
What is the difference between seconds and milliseconds timestamps?
Seconds timestamps have 10 digits (e.g., 1699123456), while milliseconds timestamps have 13 digits (e.g., 1699123456000). Milliseconds provide millisecond-level precision.
Can I convert future dates?
Yes, you can convert any valid date, including future dates. The timestamp will represent the number of seconds (or milliseconds) from the Unix epoch to that future date.
What format is used for date output?
Dates are displayed in ISO 8601 format (e.g., 2023-11-04T12:34:56.000Z), which is a standard international format for date and time representation in UTC.