The Origin of Epoch Time
Epoch time is a universal time measurement used in computing. It represents the total number of seconds that have passed since the Unix epoch: January 1, 1970 at 00:00:00 UTC. This system provides a reliable and consistent way to store and calculate time values across different operating systems, databases and programming languages.
Why 1970?
The year 1970 was chosen because it aligned with the early development of UNIX systems. It served as a clean, fixed reference point — a “zero moment” for calculating time numerically. Since then, every second that passes increments the epoch timestamp by exactly one.
Why Epoch Time Is So Useful
- Completely timezone-independent
- Easy to store in databases
- Ideal for API communication
- Simple to compare and calculate
- Universally supported in all major programming languages
How Epoch Time Is Used Today
Modern systems rely on epoch timestamps for event logging, scheduling tasks, synchronizing servers, and tracking user actions. In short: epoch time ensures precision and consistency across global systems, regardless of local timezone differences.