Unix Timestamp Converter
Convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates in local time and UTC.
Knowledge Base & Educational Companion: Understanding Unix Time
A Unix timestamp counts the number of seconds elapsed since 00:00:00 UTC on 1 January 1970 — the 'Unix epoch'. It gives computers a single, timezone-independent number to represent any moment.
1. Seconds vs Milliseconds
Classic Unix time is measured in seconds, but JavaScript and many APIs use milliseconds (×1000). Mistaking one for the other shifts a date by decades, so always confirm the unit.
2. Timezones & UTC
A timestamp itself has no timezone; it is an absolute instant. The same number renders as different wall-clock times once you apply a local or UTC offset for display.
3. The Year 2038 Problem
Systems storing Unix time in a signed 32-bit integer overflow on 19 January 2038. Modern platforms use 64-bit integers, pushing the limit billions of years into the future.