Unix Timestamp
A Unix timestamp is a system for representing a point in time as a single integer, typically the number of seconds that have elapsed since 00:00:00 UTC on January 1, 1970 (the Unix epoch). It is widely used in computing for storing and manipulating dates and times in a simple, timezone-agnostic format. This allows for easy arithmetic operations, such as calculating time differences or scheduling events.
Developers should learn Unix timestamps for handling date and time data in applications that require efficient storage, cross-platform compatibility, or time-based calculations, such as logging systems, scheduling tools, or APIs. They are particularly useful in backend development, databases, and distributed systems where consistency across different time zones is critical, as they avoid the complexities of timezone conversions and daylight saving time.