Timestamp Converter

Convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates. Supports both seconds and milliseconds with timezone support.

What is Timestamp Converter?

A Timestamp Converter translates between Unix timestamps—the raw integer representation of time used in computing—and human-readable date-time strings. A Unix timestamp is defined as the total number of seconds (or milliseconds) that have elapsed since the Unix Epoch: January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC. This standard, introduced with the Unix operating system, has become universal across programming languages, databases, and APIs. JavaScript uses millisecond timestamps (e.g., Date.now() returns 1714000000000), while most Unix systems, Python's time module, and many databases store second-precision timestamps (e.g., 1714000000). Timestamps are timezone-agnostic by definition—they represent a single absolute point in universal time, which makes them ideal for logging events, scheduling, storing creation/modification times in databases, and synchronizing distributed systems across regions. However, they are completely unreadable to humans, which is where this converter becomes essential. Developers constantly encounter raw timestamp values in server logs, API responses, database records, JWT expiry fields (exp claim), HTTP headers (If-Modified-Since, Last-Modified), and debugging sessions. Converting them instantly to a readable date prevents the mental math overhead and timezone confusion that slows development.

How to Use Timestamp Converter

The converter works in both directions. To convert a timestamp to a date: paste or type a Unix timestamp in the top input field. The tool auto-detects whether it is in seconds (10 digits, like 1714000000) or milliseconds (13 digits, like 1714000000000) and instantly displays the corresponding date and time in your local timezone, UTC, and several other common timezones. You can also select a specific timezone from the dropdown to convert to. To convert a date to a timestamp: use the date-time picker or type a date string in the bottom input. Click Convert to get the Unix timestamp in both seconds and milliseconds format. The 'Current Time' button populates the field with the exact current time, so you can reference what 'now' looks like as a timestamp. All conversions update in real-time. Copy either the timestamp or the formatted date string with the copy button next to each result.

FAQ

What is a Unix timestamp and why does it start at January 1, 1970?

A Unix timestamp is the count of seconds since the Unix Epoch—January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC. This date was chosen by the Unix developers as a convenient recent reference point when the operating system was designed in the late 1960s. It has since become a universal standard because it simplifies date arithmetic (just add or subtract seconds) and is inherently timezone-neutral.

Should I use second-precision or millisecond-precision timestamps?

It depends on your stack. JavaScript's Date.now() and most browser APIs use milliseconds (13-digit numbers). Python's time.time(), PHP's time(), most Unix tools, and many SQL databases like PostgreSQL use seconds (10-digit numbers). When in doubt, look at the digit count: 10 digits = seconds, 13 digits = milliseconds. The tool auto-detects and converts both. Redis, MongoDB, and Java's System.currentTimeMillis() also use milliseconds.

How do I convert a timestamp to a specific timezone?

Select the desired timezone from the dropdown menu before converting. The tool supports all IANA timezone names (e.g., America/New_York, Europe/London, Asia/Seoul). The output will show the local time in that timezone alongside the UTC equivalent. Note that the timestamp itself is always UTC—what changes is the human-readable representation of that moment in your chosen locale.

What is the maximum Unix timestamp and what is the Year 2038 problem?

Systems that store timestamps as 32-bit signed integers can represent dates only up to January 19, 2038 (timestamp 2,147,483,647), at which point they overflow to negative values and loop back to 1901. This is the 'Year 2038 problem.' Modern systems use 64-bit integers for timestamps, which can store dates far beyond the heat death of the universe. JavaScript uses 64-bit floats, so web applications are not affected.

How do I decode the exp field in a JWT token?

JWT tokens contain an 'exp' (expiration) claim that is a Unix timestamp in seconds indicating when the token expires. Copy the numeric value of the exp field and paste it into this converter. It will show you the exact date and time the token becomes invalid. For example, exp: 1714086400 means the token expires on April 26, 2024. Use the JWT Decoder tool to extract the exp and other claims from a full JWT token string.