🧰Online Tools

Timestamp Converter

Convert between Unix timestamps and datetime

Tips:

  • Supports 10-digit (seconds) and 13-digit (milliseconds) timestamps
  • Timezone defaults to your local timezone
  • Common timestamp: 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC = 0

About This Tool

Unix Timestamp is the number of seconds (or milliseconds) that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC. It's a widely used time representation in computer systems with advantages of being timezone-independent and having a unified format. This tool helps you convert between timestamps and human-readable datetime formats. All calculations are done locally in your browser.

How to Use

  1. View the current time and corresponding Unix timestamp displayed at the top of the page
  2. Enter a timestamp value in the 'Unix Timestamp' input field, click 'Convert to datetime'
  3. Or select a datetime in the 'Datetime' picker, click 'Convert to timestamp'
  4. Click 'Use current time' to quickly fill in the current time
  5. Use the copy button to copy the conversion result to clipboard

Common Use Cases

  • Log analysis: Convert server log timestamps to readable time
  • API debugging: Process timestamp fields returned by APIs
  • Database operations: Convert datetime to timestamp for storage or queries
  • Scheduled tasks: Calculate timestamps for task execution
  • Frontend development: Handle JavaScript Date objects and timestamps
  • Data analysis: Unify time formats from different data sources

FAQ

Q1: What is a Unix timestamp?

A Unix timestamp is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). For example, timestamp 1609459200 represents January 1, 2021 00:00:00 UTC. It's a timezone-independent time representation method widely used in databases, APIs, and programming.

Q2: What's the difference between second and millisecond timestamps?

Second timestamps are 10-digit numbers (like 1609459200), millisecond timestamps are 13-digit numbers (like 1609459200000). JavaScript's Date.now() returns millisecond timestamps, while many backend languages and databases use second timestamps. This tool automatically recognizes and handles both formats.

Q3: Why is the converted time different from expected?

The most common reason is timezone issues. This tool uses your local timezone by default. If your data source uses a different timezone, conversion results will differ. Also confirm whether the input is a second or millisecond timestamp.

Q4: Do timestamps have an expiration limit?

32-bit system Unix timestamps have a maximum value of 2147483647 (January 19, 2038), known as the 'Year 2038 problem'. However, modern 64-bit systems and the JavaScript used by this tool can handle timestamps far beyond this range, so no need to worry in practical use.

Q5: How do I get the current timestamp?

In JavaScript use Math.floor(Date.now()/1000) for second timestamps, Date.now() for millisecond timestamps. In Python use time.time(), in PHP use time(). The top of this tool page also displays the current timestamp in real-time.