Timestamp Converter
Convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates
What is Timestamp Converter?
Timestamp Converter is a free online tool that converts between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates. Unix timestamps count the number of seconds (or milliseconds) since January 1, 1970 UTC, and are widely used in databases, APIs, log files, and programming. This tool accepts timestamps in both seconds and milliseconds format, as well as human-readable date strings and ISO 8601 format, converting them to all common representations including local time and UTC. A convenient 'Now' button captures the current timestamp instantly. All processing happens in your browser with no data sent to any server.
How to Use
- Enter a Unix timestamp (seconds or milliseconds) or a date string.
- Click the 'Now' button to use the current time.
- Conversion results in various formats are displayed.
Tips & Best Practices
- Use the 'Now' button to quickly get the current Unix timestamp for testing or logging.
- Check both seconds and milliseconds formats - JavaScript uses milliseconds while most APIs use seconds.
- Always consider timezone differences when comparing timestamps from different sources.
- ISO 8601 format (YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm:ssZ) is the most portable date format for APIs.
- Unix timestamps before 1970 are negative numbers, which some systems do not handle correctly.
Use Cases
API Development
Convert timestamp values in API responses to human-readable dates for debugging.
Database Work
Translate stored Unix timestamps to dates when analyzing database records.
Log Analysis
Convert log file timestamps to readable dates to understand when events occurred.
JWT Inspection
Convert 'exp' and 'iat' claims in JWT tokens from Unix timestamps to dates.
FAQ
What is a Unix timestamp?
A Unix timestamp is a number representing the seconds (or milliseconds) elapsed since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC.
How do I distinguish seconds vs milliseconds timestamps?
Seconds timestamps are typically 10 digits, while milliseconds are 13 digits. This tool detects the format automatically.
What is the Unix Epoch?
The Unix Epoch is the reference point of January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC (time zero), used as the time origin in most operating systems and programming languages.
Is my data sent to any server?
No, all timestamp conversions are processed locally in your browser and no data is transmitted externally.
How are time zones handled?
Timestamps are based on UTC, and conversion results are displayed in both your browser's local time zone and UTC.
What is the Year 2038 problem?
It is an overflow issue where 32-bit Unix timestamps exceed their maximum on January 19, 2038. This tool uses JavaScript's 64-bit numbers, so this limitation does not apply.
What is the difference between seconds and milliseconds timestamps?
Seconds timestamps are 10 digits (e.g., 1700000000). Milliseconds timestamps are 13 digits (e.g., 1700000000000). JavaScript Date.now() returns milliseconds.
Is my data collected?
No, all conversions happen in your browser. No data is sent to any server.
What is ISO 8601?
ISO 8601 is an international date format standard (e.g., 2024-01-15T10:30:00Z) widely used in APIs and data exchange.
How do timezones affect timestamps?
Unix timestamps are always in UTC. The local time display depends on your browser's timezone setting.
What happens after 2038?
32-bit systems storing timestamps as signed integers will overflow on January 19, 2038. 64-bit systems and JavaScript handle this correctly.
Can I convert dates before 1970?
Yes, dates before 1970 are represented as negative Unix timestamps.
What date formats are accepted?
The tool accepts Unix timestamps (seconds and milliseconds), ISO 8601 strings, and common date formats like YYYY-MM-DD.