What is Unix Timestamp?
Unix Timestamp (also called Unix Time or Epoch Time) is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC. It's a simple way to represent a specific point in time using a single number, making it easy for computers to store and calculate time differences.
Why Use Unix Timestamps?
- Universal Standard: Works across all time zones and systems
- Storage Efficient: Stores as a simple integer, saving database space
- Calculation Easy: Simple arithmetic for time differences
- No Ambiguity: No daylight saving time complications
- API Standard: Used widely in web APIs and services
Understanding Time Zones
- UTC (Coordinated Universal Time): The international standard, also called GMT or Zulu time
- Local Time: Your computer's time zone (e.g., EST, IST, PST)
- Conversion: Unix timestamps are always in UTC; local conversion depends on your time zone
Common Uses of Unix Timestamps
- Recording when events occur in databases
- Calculating time differences between events
- Scheduling tasks and cron jobs
- API logging and audit trails
- File modification dates
How to Get Current Unix Timestamp
- JavaScript:
Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) - Python:
import time; time.time() - PHP:
time() - Linux/Mac:
date +%s
Pro Tip: Always store dates as Unix timestamps in databases for consistency and easy conversion to any time zone when displaying to users.