Epoch Converter – Convert Unix Time to Date
Convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates instantly. Epoch converter supports seconds, milliseconds, microseconds, nanoseconds and vice versa.
How to Convert Epoch to Date
Supports Unix timestamps in seconds, milliseconds, microseconds and nanoseconds.
Convert Date to Unix Timestamp
Input format: RFC 2822, D-M-Y, M/D/Y, Y-M-D, etc. Strip 'GMT' to convert to local time.
Convert seconds to days, hours and minutes
Common Epoch Time Examples
Here are some common Unix timestamps and their corresponding human-readable dates:
| Unix Timestamp | Human Date (UTC) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC | Unix Epoch (start of Unix time) |
| 1000000000 | September 9, 2001, 01:46:40 UTC | One billion seconds after epoch |
| 1609459200 | January 1, 2021, 00:00:00 UTC | New Year 2021 |
| 1672531200 | January 1, 2023, 00:00:00 UTC | New Year 2023 |
| 2147483647 | January 19, 2038, 03:14:07 UTC | Year 2038 Problem (32-bit overflow) |
Unix time, also known as epoch time or POSIX time, is a system for describing points in time. It represents the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), not counting leap seconds. This standardized time format is widely used in computer systems, programming languages, and databases because it provides a consistent way to store and compare timestamps across different time zones and systems. Our free epoch converter supports multiple timestamp formats including seconds (10-digit), milliseconds (13-digit), microseconds (16-digit), and nanoseconds (19-digit), making it perfect for developers working with APIs, databases, or any system that uses Unix timestamps.
What is Unix Epoch Time?
The Unix epoch (also known as Unix time, POSIX time, or Unix timestamp) is a system for describing a point in time. It is defined as the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC (midnight UTC/GMT), not counting leap seconds. In ISO 8601 format, this is represented as 1970-01-01T00:00:00Z.
Key Facts About Unix Epoch Time:
- • Starting Point: January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC
- • Format: Number of seconds elapsed since epoch
- • Leap Seconds: Not included in Unix time calculations
- • Year 2038 Problem: 32-bit systems will overflow on January 19, 2038
Our epoch converter supports multiple timestamp formats:
- • Seconds (10-digit): Standard Unix timestamp format
- • Milliseconds (13-digit): JavaScript Date.now() format
- • Microseconds (16-digit): High-precision timestamps
- • Nanoseconds (19-digit): Maximum precision timestamps
| Human-readable time | Seconds |
|---|---|
| 1 hour | 3600 seconds |
| 1 day | 86400 seconds |
| 1 week | 604800 seconds |
| 1 month (30.44 days) | 2629743 seconds |
| 1 year (365.24 days) | 31556926 seconds |
How to get the current epoch time in ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Unix timestamp and epoch time?
Unix timestamp and epoch time are essentially the same thing. Both refer to the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC. The term "epoch" refers to the starting point (January 1, 1970), while "Unix timestamp" refers to the actual numeric value representing the elapsed time.
Why does Unix time start from January 1, 1970?
January 1, 1970 was chosen as the Unix epoch because it was around the time when the Unix operating system was first developed. It provides a convenient reference point for time calculations and was practical for the computer systems of that era.
What is the Year 2038 problem?
The Year 2038 problem occurs because many systems store Unix timestamps as 32-bit signed integers. On January 19, 2038 at 03:14:07 UTC, these systems will overflow and reset to December 13, 1901. Modern systems use 64-bit integers to avoid this issue.
How accurate is Unix time?
Unix time is accurate to the second for most purposes. However, it doesn't account for leap seconds, which are occasionally added to keep atomic time in sync with Earth's rotation. This means Unix time can drift slightly from actual solar time over long periods.
Can I convert timestamps in different timezones?
Yes! Our epoch converter supports conversion to and from any timezone. Unix timestamps are always stored in UTC, but you can view the converted time in your local timezone or any other timezone using our timezone selector.
How to convert Unix time in JavaScript?
In JavaScript, you can convert Unix timestamps using the Date constructor: new Date(timestamp * 1000) for seconds or new Date(timestamp) for milliseconds. To get current Unix time: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000).
How to convert Unix time in Python?
In Python, use the datetime module: from datetime import datetime; datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp) for local time or datetime.utcfromtimestamp(timestamp) for UTC. To get current Unix time: import time; int(time.time()).
Why is Unix time used in programming?
Unix time is widely used because it provides a standardized, timezone-independent way to represent dates and times. It's easy to store in databases, compare between different systems, and perform calculations. Most programming languages and databases have built-in support for Unix timestamps.
Why Use Our Epoch Converter?
Developer-Friendly Features
- • Support for multiple timestamp formats (seconds, milliseconds, microseconds, nanoseconds)
- • Real-time current timestamp display
- • Comprehensive timezone support
- • Programming code examples in multiple languages
- • Instant conversion without page reload
Perfect for Programming
- • Debug timestamp-related issues quickly
- • Convert between different time formats
- • Understand timezone conversions
- • Validate timestamp formats
- • Learn epoch time concepts with examples
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Use URL Encoder →What is Epoch Converter?
Our Epoch Converter is a comprehensive tool for converting Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and vice versa. It supports multiple timestamp formats and time zones, making it perfect for developers, system administrators, and anyone working with time-based data.
Key Features
- Convert Unix timestamps (seconds, milliseconds, microseconds, nanoseconds)
- Support for multiple time zones
- Current timestamp display with live updates
- Batch conversion capabilities
- Format timestamps in various date formats
- Calculate time differences and relative times
- Copy timestamps to clipboard
- Sample timestamp examples for testing
Usage Examples
Convert Unix Timestamp
Convert a Unix timestamp to human-readable date
1609459200 → January 1, 2021, 00:00:00 UTCCurrent Timestamp
Get the current Unix timestamp
Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000)Frequently Asked Questions
What is Unix timestamp?
A Unix timestamp is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).
What is the Year 2038 problem?
The Year 2038 problem is a time formatting bug that will affect systems using 32-bit integers to store Unix timestamps, as they will overflow on January 19, 2038.
How to convert Unix timestamp in JavaScript?
Use new Date(timestamp * 1000) to convert a Unix timestamp (in seconds) to a JavaScript Date object.
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