Code Carnage
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</code></pre>1console.log("hello-world);console.log("hello-world);.container {
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</code></pre>Learn what epoch time is and how it works in this beginner-friendly guide. Discover its uses, formats, and why timestamps are crucial in technology.
Epoch time or UNIX time is a system for tracking time as the number of seconds (or milliseconds) that have elapsed since a specific starting point: 00:00:00 UTC on January 1, 1970. This starting point is referred to as the "Unix epoch."
But why this specific date? There is actually no specific reason—it was selected arbitrarily by Unix engineers because it was considered a convenient date to work with. (Interesting read about it).
Unlike conventional date and time formats, which use calendars and time zones, epoch time provides a universal standard that is easy for computers to process. Epoch is generally stored in signed 32-bit or 64-bit integers, which makes it efficient to work with.
Another interesting thing to note here is that any system using signed 32-bit will start having problems from January 19, 2038, at 03:14:07 UTC because the 32-bit integer will reach its maximum value. (Read more about it). Luckily, modern applications can easily switch to using 64-bit integers to avoid this problem.
Pro tip: If you want your system to work seamlessly beyond 2038, use long instead of int to store timestamps. In Java-based languages, int is assigned 32-bits.
Epoch time works by counting time in seconds (or fractions of seconds) since the Unix epoch. Let's break this down:
Fun fact: Unix time is running 37 seconds behind International Atomic Time (TAI), which is a high-precision system for timekeeping.
Here are a few epoch timestamps and their corresponding human-readable times:
Epoch time's simplicity and universality make it a favorite in many industries. Computers handle numbers more efficiently than strings. Epoch time eliminates the need to parse complex date and time formats. It’s also easier to compare numbers than strings.
In today’s world, where we frequently leave digital footprints, it becomes essential to know exactly when things happen. For example:
Depending on the system and application, epoch time can be measured in various precision levels:
While epoch time is efficient, it poses challenges for developers and end-users:
Human Readability: Epoch timestamps are not intuitive for humans to interpret. For example, 1701012345 has no inherent meaning unless converted to a human-readable date.
Time Zone Adjustments: Epoch time is UTC-based, but end-users often need to see local time zones.
As the backbone of time representation in technology, epoch time is crucial. Its universality, efficiency, and simplicity have made it the preferred choice for decades. With advancements in 64-bit computing, epoch time will remain relevant well into the future.
Whether you're an experienced developer or just getting started, understanding epoch time is crucial for working with time data. With the right tools and knowledge, you can confidently navigate its challenges and harness its power in your projects.
Feel free to reach out!