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Unix Timestamp Explained for Logs, APIs, and Debugging
Understand Unix timestamps, seconds vs milliseconds, time zones, ISO dates, and conversion mistakes.
Timestamp Converter
Convert between Unix timestamps and local date-time values.
What a Unix timestamp is
A Unix timestamp represents time as a number counted from January 1, 1970 UTC. It is widely used in logs, APIs, databases, tokens, and scheduling systems.
The number itself is not formatted for humans, which is why timestamp converters are useful during debugging.
Seconds vs milliseconds
One of the most common mistakes is confusing seconds and milliseconds. A 10-digit timestamp is often seconds. A 13-digit timestamp is often milliseconds.
If the converted date looks far in the future or far in the past, check whether the value needs to be divided or multiplied by 1000.
Time zones and ISO dates
Unix time is based on UTC, but people often view dates in a local time zone. The same timestamp can display as different clock times depending on the time zone.
When debugging APIs, keep both UTC and local display in mind. ISO date strings can also include explicit time zone information.
FAQ
What is epoch time?
Epoch time is another name for Unix time counted from January 1, 1970 UTC.
How do I know seconds or milliseconds?
Look at the length. 10 digits is commonly seconds; 13 digits is commonly milliseconds.
Does timestamp include time zone?
The number represents an absolute moment. The displayed date can vary by time zone.
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