Unix Timestamp Converter

Convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates.

Overview

Converts Unix epoch timestamps (seconds and milliseconds) into human-readable ISO-8601, UTC, and local date-time strings.

Formula & Calculation Method

Date_String = new Date(Unix_Timestamp_Seconds × 1000).toISOString()

Counts the number of non-leap seconds elapsed since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC (the Unix Epoch).

Worked Example: Converting Timestamp 1700000000

Inputs: Unix Timestamp = 1700000000 (Seconds)

  • Multiply by 1,000 to convert to milliseconds: 1,700,000,000,000 ms
  • Evaluate calendar year, month, day, hours, minutes, and seconds
  • UTC Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2023 02:40:00 AM UTC
  • ISO 8601 String: 2023-11-15T02:40:00.000Z

Summary: Timestamp = 1700000000 | UTC Date = Nov 15, 2023 02:40:00 UTC | Relative: Past Event

Common Use Cases

  • Database Query Auditing: Convert raw integer timestamps from MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB into readable dates.
  • API Development: Verify expiration dates in authentication tokens and cache headers.
  • Log Analysis: Translate server log timestamps during incident post-mortems and debugging.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Unix Epoch?

The starting point for Unix time: 00:00:00 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on Thursday, January 1, 1970.

How do I tell if a timestamp is in seconds or milliseconds?

A 10-digit timestamp (e.g. 1700000000) is in seconds; a 13-digit timestamp (e.g. 1700000000000) is in milliseconds.

What will happen in the Year 2038?

32-bit signed integers will overflow on January 19, 2038; modern 64-bit systems have already resolved this issue.

Related Calculators & Tools