Timestamp Converter FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Timestamp Converter
What is the current Unix timestamp?
The current Unix timestamp changes every second. Use our tool to see the live current timestamp. As of late 2024, timestamps are in the 1.73 billion range for seconds (10 digits) or 1.73 trillion range for milliseconds (13 digits). You can also use Date.now() in JavaScript or run 'date +%s' in a Unix terminal.
Why do some timestamps have 13 digits?
13-digit timestamps are in milliseconds (JavaScript default). 10-digit timestamps are in seconds (traditional Unix). The extra three digits provide sub-second precision. To convert: divide milliseconds by 1000 to get seconds, multiply seconds by 1000 to get milliseconds. Our converter automatically detects which format you're using.
How do I handle timezones with timestamps?
Unix timestamps are always in UTC—they represent absolute moments in time without timezone information. When storing, always use UTC timestamps. When displaying to users, convert to their local timezone using your programming language's date/time library. Never store timestamps in local time; always convert to UTC for storage and back to local time for display.
What is the Y2038 bug?
On January 19, 2038, 03:14:07 UTC, 32-bit signed Unix timestamps will overflow, jumping from 2038 to 1901. This is similar to Y2K but harder to fix because it affects binary data formats, not just text. Modern 64-bit systems are unaffected. Embedded systems and legacy software may still be vulnerable. Applications calculating future dates (mortgages, warranties) should use 64-bit timestamps now.
Can timestamps represent dates before 1970?
Yes, negative timestamps represent times before the Unix epoch (January 1, 1970). Timestamp -1 is December 31, 1969, 23:59:59 UTC. On 32-bit systems, this goes back to 1901. On 64-bit systems, billions of years. However, historical dates have complications: calendar changes, timezone shifts, and the non-existence of UTC before 1972 add complexity.
Why use timestamps instead of date strings?
Timestamps are: timezone-independent (stored in UTC, converted for display), unambiguous (no date format confusion like MM/DD vs DD/MM), sortable and comparable (simple numeric comparison), compact (4-8 bytes vs 20+ for date strings), and fast to calculate with (duration = end - start). They're the standard for databases, APIs, and logs because they eliminate date handling ambiguity.