Unix timestamps count the seconds (or milliseconds) since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC — a point known as the Unix epoch. They're the universal time format in computing: APIs, databases, log files, and programming languages all use epoch time. This converter translates between timestamps and human-readable dates instantly, with timezone support.
How to Use
Two modes:
- Timestamp → Date: Enter a Unix timestamp to see the full date
- Date → Timestamp: Pick a date/time to get the Unix timestamp
- Toggle between seconds and milliseconds precision
What Is the Unix Epoch?
January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC was chosen as the epoch because Unix was being developed in the early 1970s. All Unix timestamps are relative to this moment. Negative timestamps represent dates before 1970.
The Year 2038 Problem
32-bit signed integers overflow on January 19, 2038 at 03:14:07 UTC (timestamp 2,147,483,647). This is similar to Y2K but for Unix systems. Modern systems use 64-bit integers, which won't overflow for 292 billion years.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- 1Enter a Unix timestamp or select a date/time.
- 2Toggle between seconds and milliseconds.
- 3View the converted result in multiple formats.
- 4Check the relative time display.
- 5Select a timezone for localized output.