Unix epoch time (also known as POSIX time or Unix timestamp) represents the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC. This date is called the "Unix epoch" and serves as the reference point for time calculations in most computing systems.
The unix time format is timezone-independent, making it ideal for storing timestamps in databases, APIs, and log files. When you convert epoch time to date, you're translating this numeric value into a human-readable format like "January 1, 2024 12:00:00".
Seconds vs Milliseconds
Unix timestamps come in two common formats: seconds (10 digits, e.g., 1704067200) and milliseconds (13 digits, e.g., 1704067200000). JavaScript and Java typically use milliseconds, while Unix/Linux systems, Python, and PHP use seconds. Our epoch converter automatically detects and handles both formats.
Common Time Intervals in Seconds
1 hour 3,600 seconds
1 day 86,400 seconds
1 week 604,800 seconds
1 month (30.44 days) 2,629,743 seconds
1 year (365.24 days) 31,556,926 seconds