Date to Timestamp Converter
Convert dates to UNIX timestamps.
Date Input
Result
UNIX Timestamp (seconds)
Milliseconds
ISO 8601
Date to Timestamp Converter
Converts any human-readable date and time into a UNIX timestamp — the number of seconds elapsed since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC (the Unix epoch). It also shows the result in milliseconds and ISO 8601 format.
What is it used for?
- API development: many REST APIs accept timestamps as integers for request parameters
- Database queries: generate epoch values for SQL WHERE clauses or MongoDB date filters
- JWT token debugging: create iat, exp, and nbf claim values for testing JWT tokens
- Cron & scheduling: calculate future timestamps for scheduling jobs or setting expiration times
- Cross-timezone coordination: UNIX timestamps are timezone-agnostic, ideal for distributed systems
Step-by-Step Guide
- Select the date using the date picker
- Set the time using the time input field
- Choose your timezone (local or UTC)
- View the UNIX timestamp in seconds and milliseconds
- Copy the timestamp value you need
How it works
Select a date and time using the input fields, choose between local time or UTC, and the tool instantly calculates the corresponding UNIX timestamp. All computation happens in your browser using JavaScript's Date object. No data is sent to any server.
Tips & Best Practices
- UNIX timestamps are always in UTC — make sure you account for timezone differences
- Use millisecond timestamps for JavaScript (Date.now()) and second timestamps for most APIs and databases
- The current UNIX timestamp is shown live at the top for quick reference
- Pair this tool with the JWT Decoder to debug token expiration claims
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a UNIX timestamp?
A UNIX timestamp (also called epoch time or POSIX time) is the number of seconds elapsed since January 1, 1970 00:00:00 UTC. It's used universally in programming because it's timezone-independent and easy to store as a single integer.
What's the difference between seconds and milliseconds timestamps?
UNIX timestamps in seconds are 10 digits (e.g., 1716239022). JavaScript's Date.now() returns milliseconds — 13 digits (e.g., 1716239022000). This tool provides both formats.
What happens in 2038?
The Year 2038 problem affects systems storing timestamps as 32-bit signed integers, which overflow on January 19, 2038. Modern systems use 64-bit integers. JavaScript uses 64-bit floats, supporting dates well beyond 2038.
Does the timezone affect the timestamp?
UNIX timestamps are always in UTC. When you select a local time, the tool converts it to UTC before calculating the timestamp. The same moment in time produces the same timestamp regardless of your timezone.
Privacy & Security
This tool uses FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly (WASM). The WASM binary (~25MB) is downloaded from a CDN on first use and cached by your browser. All file processing happens locally on your device - your files are never uploaded to any server. This makes it safe for sensitive, private, or confidential media files. Large files may take longer to process depending on your device's CPU and available memory.