UNIX/Javascript Epoch Tool

Convert between UNIX/JavaScript epoch timestamps and human-readable dates with this free, user-friendly tool. Instantly translate timestamps to UTC dates and vice versa, with no login required.

About

Epoch to Date Conversion

Convert UNIX/JavaScript epoch timestamps to human-readable UTC dates and times.

Date to Epoch Conversion

Convert human-readable dates and times to UNIX/JavaScript epoch timestamps.

Current Epoch Display

Automatically displays the current epoch timestamp upon page load.

Copy to Clipboard

Easily copy converted values to clipboard with a single click.

Input Validation

Validates user inputs to ensure accurate conversions and prevent errors.

Reference

The UNIX epoch, also known as POSIX time or UNIX time, is a system for describing a point in time. It is the number of seconds that have elapsed since 00:00:00 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on 1 January 1970, not counting leap seconds. It is widely used in computing and is the standard time representation in many operating systems and file formats. JavaScript, which uses milliseconds since the epoch, is a slight variation of this concept, requiring simple conversion for compatibility with UNIX time.

Calculation

For Epoch to Date conversion:
1. The input epoch is converted to milliseconds by multiplying by 1000 (if it's in seconds).
2. A new Date object is created using this millisecond value.
3. The toUTCString() method is called on this Date object to get the UTC representation.

For Date to Epoch conversion:
1. A new Date object is created from the input string, with 'Z' appended to treat it as UTC.
2. The getTime() method is called on this Date object to get milliseconds since epoch.
3. The result is divided by 1000 and floored to get the epoch in seconds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an epoch timestamp?
An epoch timestamp is the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 (midnight UTC/GMT), not counting leap seconds.
Why does the tool automatically fill in a number in the epoch input?
The tool displays the current epoch timestamp by default to provide a starting point and demonstrate real-time functionality.
Can I use this tool for JavaScript timestamps?
Yes, the tool handles both UNIX (seconds) and JavaScript (milliseconds) epoch formats, automatically adjusting for the difference.
How accurate are the conversions?
The conversions are precise to the second, which is sufficient for most applications using epoch time.
Why is the date format important when converting to epoch?
The specific format (YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss) ensures accurate parsing of the date and time for conversion to epoch.