Unix Timestamps Explained: The Developer's Time Format
3 min read
A Unix timestamp is the number of seconds since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC (the "Unix epoch"). Right now, it's a 10-digit number like 1780000000. It's how most systems store and transmit time internally.
Why Unix Timestamps?
- Timezone-independent - the same number means the same moment everywhere
- Easy to compare - later times are larger numbers
- Compact - one number instead of a formatted date string
- Universal - supported by every programming language and database
Seconds vs Milliseconds
Unix timestamps are traditionally in seconds (10 digits), but JavaScript and many APIs use milliseconds (13 digits). If a timestamp looks like 1780000000000, it's milliseconds - divide by 1000 for seconds.
Convert with Toolium
The Timestamp Converter handles both directions: paste a Unix timestamp to see the human-readable date, or pick a date to get the timestamp. It shows the current time live and auto-detects seconds vs milliseconds.
Try the tool mentioned in this article
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