What Is a Unix Timestamp?
A Unix timestamp (also known as Epoch time or POSIX time) is a system for representing time as the total number of seconds that have elapsed since the Unix Epoch — January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC.
Unlike standard date formats, the Unix timestamp is independent of time zones, meaning it represents the same moment in time worldwide. This consistency makes it ideal for computer systems, databases, and APIs that need to store or compare dates across different regions.
For example, a timestamp like 1733836800 corresponds to December 10, 2024, at 00:00:00 UTC. Unix timestamps are widely used in software development, backend services, log tracking, blockchain, and web applications to ensure precise time synchronization.
👉 Use our free online Unix Timestamp Converter to quickly convert between timestamps and human-readable dates.
🧮 How to Convert a Unix Timestamp to a Readable Date
Converting a Unix timestamp to a human-readable date is simple. Every timestamp represents the number of seconds since January 1 1970 (UTC).
For example:
You can quickly convert any value using our free Unix Timestamp Converter. Simply enter the number and the result will appear instantly in multiple formats such as UTC, local time, ISO 8601, and RFC 2822.
Developers can also use this format when building APIs, backend systems, or log-tracking tools that require consistent date comparisons.
⏰ How to Get the Current Unix Timestamp
The current Unix timestamp changes every second and represents the exact time right now in UTC. To get it, you can use one of the following commands:
In JavaScript:
Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000)In Python:
import time
int(time.time())You can view the real-time timestamp directly on ReadableTime.com — it automatically updates every second and can be copied with one click.