A timestamp is a sequence of characters or encoded information representing a specific date and time, widely used in computer science to log events, schedule tasks, and maintain data integrity. In most systems, a timestamp is expressed as the number of seconds or milliseconds elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC — commonly known as the Unix Epoch.
Timestamps are crucial in databases, distributed systems, and blockchain environments, where accurate and consistent time representation is essential. They help systems to sequence events, detect anomalies, and perform time-based calculations efficiently. Without timestamps, it would be challenging to coordinate actions across different devices, regions, or servers.
Modern applications often rely on converting timestamps into human-readable formats and vice versa. This allows developers and users to understand when a specific event occurred, whether for simple logging, complex data analytics, or validating transaction history in decentralized applications (DApps). Timestamps have become a foundational element of every time-sensitive application today.