Unix Timestamp
Convert between Unix timestamps and human dates.
What is the Unix Timestamp?
A Unix timestamp is the number of seconds since 1 January 1970 UTC, which is how computers store an instant without ambiguity about time zones or formats. A converter translates that number into a readable date and back, which is what you need when reading logs or a database column.
Frequently asked questions
Is my timestamp in seconds or milliseconds?
Count the digits. Ten digits is seconds, thirteen is milliseconds. If a date comes out in 1970 you almost certainly passed milliseconds to a function expecting seconds; if it lands 50,000 years out, the reverse.
Why does the same timestamp show a different date for my colleague?
The timestamp is identical — the display is not. A timestamp is an instant in UTC, and each viewer renders it in their local time zone. Always store and transmit UTC, and convert only when displaying.
What is the year 2038 problem?
A signed 32-bit integer overflows on 19 January 2038, so systems still storing timestamps that way will wrap to a negative number and misread the date. Modern platforms use 64-bit values, which last longer than the age of the universe.
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Unix Timestamp is one of 4 tools in Converters on Toolkit Hub, a free collection of browser-based utilities. It requires no account and no installation. Browse all tools.