What is a Unix Timestamp? (+ Easy Conversion Guide)

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If you’ve seen numbers like 1746959680 in your code or logs and wondered what on earth is this? — welcome to the world of Unix timestamps.

In this quick guide, you’ll learn:

• What a Unix timestamp is
• ? How to convert it to a human-readable format
• ? Code examples in Python, JavaScript, Java & Node.js
• A free tool for instant conversion →
  
  

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? What is a Unix Timestamp?


A Unix timestamp (or Epoch time) is the number of seconds that have passed since:

? January 1st, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC

This moment is known as the Unix Epoch — a standard starting point for time in computing systems.

For example:


1746959680 → May 11, 2025, 10:54:40 AM UTC
Unix time is widely used because it’s:

• Language-agnostic
• Compact
• Efficient for calculations and comparisons

?‍? Why Developers Use Unix Timestamps


Unix timestamps are everywhere for good reasons:

? Easy comparisons — Just subtract two timestamps to get time differences

? Lightweight storage — Numbers instead of long date strings

? Universal format — Used in APIs, databases, logs, and analytics

? How to Convert a Unix Timestamp


Use a Free Online Converter

Don’t want to write code? No problem. Paste your timestamp into a tool like:

?

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)

Features:

• Convert timestamps to UTC/local time
• Convert both seconds and milliseconds
• Convert from date to timestamp, and vice versa

? Convert in Python


Here’s how to convert a Unix timestamp in Python:


import datetime

timestamp = 1746959680
dt = datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp(timestamp)
print(dt.strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'))
# Output: 2025-05-11 10:54:40

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? Convert in Node.js


Node.js uses the same Date object as browser JavaScript, so it’s just as simple:


const timestamp = 1746959680;
const date = new Date(timestamp * 1000);

console.log(date.toISOString());
// Output: 2025-05-11T10:54:40.000Z

If you want local time instead:


console.log(date.toLocaleString());
// Output depends on your system’s locale and timezone

? Pro Tip: Use libraries like dayjs, luxon, or moment for more robust time formatting in Node.js apps.

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? Convert in JavaScript


JavaScript works with milliseconds, so multiply by 1000:


const timestamp = 1746959680;
const date = new Date(timestamp * 1000);
console.log(date.toISOString());
// Output: 2025-05-11T10:54:40.000Z

? Note: Always remember JS uses milliseconds, not seconds.

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Convert in Java


In Java, use the Instant and ZonedDateTime classes from the java.time package (Java 8+):


import java.time.Instant;
import java.time.ZoneId;
import java.time.ZonedDateTime;
import java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter;

public class UnixTimestampConverter {
public static void main(String[] args) {
long timestamp = 1746959680L;
Instant instant = Instant.ofEpochSecond(timestamp);
ZonedDateTime dateTime = instant.atZone(ZoneId.of("UTC"));

String formatted = dateTime.format(DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss"));
System.out.println(formatted);
// Output: 2025-05-11 10:54:40
}
}

This prints the UTC time from the Unix timestamp. You can also adjust the ZoneId for local time.

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? Bonus: Real-World Uses


You’ll find Unix timestamps in:

? Google Analytics events
?️ Backend logs and crash reports
?️ Databases like PostgreSQL and MongoDB

? Bookmark or Share


If this helped you understand Unix timestamps better:

Bookmark this page for later
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? Explore more tools at unixtimestamp-converter.com

Happy coding! ?

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