About the Timestamp Converter
Overview
Unix timestamp is the number of seconds since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC. It is used in databases, APIs, and logs for compact, timezone-independent storage. This tool converts between Unix timestamp (seconds or milliseconds) and human-readable date and time, so you can decode logs or prepare values for APIs. You can convert in both directions: enter a timestamp to see the date, or enter a date to get the timestamp.
Timestamps are often in seconds; some systems use milliseconds (e.g. JavaScript Date.now()). The tool supports both. For scheduling tasks, the Cron Expression Generator helps build cron strings from human-friendly choices.
When to use it
Use the converter when debugging timestamps in logs or API responses, when you need to insert a specific date as a timestamp in a database or script, or when you want to verify timezone handling. Use "Now" to get the current time as both date and timestamp. For recurring schedules (e.g. daily at 3am), use the Cron Expression Generator instead.
How to use it
Select direction: Timestamp to Date or Date to Timestamp. For timestamp to date: enter a number (seconds or milliseconds) and click Convert; the result shows the equivalent date and time in UTC and optionally in local interpretation. For date to timestamp: enter or pick a date and time, then convert to get the Unix value. Use the Now button to fill in the current moment. Copy the result for use in code or queries.
Tips
Confirm whether your system uses seconds or milliseconds; 1000000000 is 2001-09-09 in seconds but only 1970-01-12 in milliseconds. Store and transmit in UTC when possible to avoid timezone bugs. For cron-style scheduling, use the Cron Expression Generator to build expressions from dropdowns. When comparing timestamps from different sources, ensure both are in the same unit (seconds vs milliseconds).
Common mistakes
Using seconds where milliseconds are expected (or the reverse) shifts the date by orders of magnitude. Off-by-one errors often come from local vs UTC: "midnight" in one timezone is a different moment in UTC. Some APIs return milliseconds; check the documentation. Entering a negative timestamp gives a date before 1970; that is valid but less common. Ensure the input is a number, not a date string, when converting timestamp to date.