Current Unix Timestamp: Epoch Clock, UTC Time, and Live Unix Time
The current Unix timestamp is the number of seconds since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC right now. Learn how an epoch clock works, why UTC is the reference, and how to get the current timestamp in common languages.
What the current Unix timestamp means
The current Unix timestamp is the number of whole seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC. A live Unix epoch clock increments once per second. If the clock shows milliseconds, it increments many times per second and is usually a 13-digit value.
Why UTC is the reference
Unix time is based on UTC so computers in different timezones can agree on one numeric value for the same instant. Local time is only a display layer. When two users load a page at the same instant, they share the same current Unix timestamp even if one sees morning and the other sees evening.
How to get the current Unix timestamp
Every common language has a short way to get the current Unix time.
- JavaScript milliseconds: Date.now()
- JavaScript seconds: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000)
- Linux seconds: date +%s
- Python seconds: int(time.time())
- PHP seconds: time()
- Go seconds: time.Now().Unix()
- PostgreSQL seconds: EXTRACT(EPOCH FROM now())
Current timestamp vs formatted time
A timestamp is useful for sorting, comparing, storing, and API payloads. A formatted date is useful for humans. Most applications store the timestamp or UTC datetime and format it only when displaying it to a user.
- Store UTC or a Unix timestamp in databases and logs
- Display local time in the user's timezone
- Use ISO 8601 when humans need to inspect API payloads
- Use Unix seconds or milliseconds when systems need compact numeric values
Current Unix timestamp FAQ
- Does the current Unix timestamp depend on my timezone?
- No. The timestamp is based on UTC and is the same worldwide for the same instant.
- Why is my current timestamp 13 digits?
- A 13-digit current timestamp is usually milliseconds. Divide by 1000 to get Unix seconds.
- Where can I see a live Unix epoch clock?
- The converter homepage shows a live epoch clock and lets you convert the value to UTC or local time.
- Is the current Unix timestamp the same in every programming language?
- Yes for the instant, but not always for the unit. JavaScript's Date.now() and Java's System.currentTimeMillis() return milliseconds, while Python time.time(), PHP time(), Go Unix(), and Linux date +%s return seconds. Confirm the unit before comparing or storing values.