Convert between Unix epoch time and readable dates. Essential tool for developers working with timestamps and server logs.
Unix time (also called Epoch time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC. It's the standard way computers measure time and is widely used in programming, databases, and system logs.
The Unix epoch is January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). This is considered time zero for Unix systems. The Unix timestamp 0 represents this exact moment.
Unix timestamps are timezone-independent, making them ideal for databases and system logs. They're a simple number, making calculations easier than with formatted dates. Most programming languages have built-in support for Unix timestamps.
Unix timestamps are typically in seconds, but some systems (especially JavaScript) use milliseconds. To convert: divide milliseconds by 1000 to get seconds, or multiply seconds by 1000 to get milliseconds.
The 32-bit Unix timestamp will overflow on January 19, 2038 (known as the Y2038 problem). Modern systems use 64-bit timestamps, which won't overflow for billions of years.
Most languages provide functions to convert between timestamps and dates. In JavaScript: `new Date(timestamp * 1000)`. In Python: `datetime.fromtimestamp(timestamp)`. In Unix: `date -d @timestamp`.