Unix Timestamp
UNIX epoch
API design
Unix Timestamps in Programming: API Design, Database Storage & Cross-Language Time Handling Guide
Why do programs store a large integer instead of "2026-04-29 10:00:00"? Unix timestamps are the most reliable format for passing time across languages and systems. This guide covers API design best practices, database column choices, the seconds vs. milliseconds trap, and code examples in JavaScript, Python, PHP, and Go.