← Back to Articles Home

What is the Difference Between Epoch Time and Unix Timestamp?

Many of us have confusions if epoch time and Unix timestamp are two different things. The answer is simple: they are the same!

Epoch Time = Unix Timestamp

Both of them refer to the number of seconds that have passed since January 1, 1970 (UTC), which is known as the Unix epoch. This counting method is widely used in computer systems, programming, and databases to store date and time in the standard format.

So Why Two Names?

• Epoch Time: Refers to the concept of time starting from a specific point (the epoch).
• Unix Timestamp: Refers to the specific implementation used by Unix and Unix-like systems, starting from 1970.

Are There Different Epochs?

Yes, other systems can have different epochs, but when people talk about epoch time today, they usually mean the Unix timestamp unless stated otherwise. Note that Epoch are commonly calculated in local time if you want values in local time.

Conclusion

Whether you call it epoch time or Unix timestamp, it is the same thing: counting seconds from January 1, 1970 (UTC). This Epoch Calculator tool makes it easy to work with these numbers and convert them into readable dates even if you have one timestamp or very big set of data we got you!

← Back to Articles Home