UTC Unix Timestamp Utility

1.0.6 · maintenance · verified Sun Apr 19

This package, `oc-get-unix-utc-timestamp` (v1.0.6), provides a straightforward utility function to retrieve the current Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) Unix timestamp. Published over four years ago, it maintains a stable, minimal footprint with zero external runtime dependencies. It ships with built-in TypeScript type definitions, enhancing development in typed environments. The primary function likely returns the timestamp in milliseconds since the Unix epoch (January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC), aligning with JavaScript's native `Date.now()` behavior, which is a common source of confusion when "Unix timestamp" often refers to seconds. Its release cadence appears to be stable rather than actively developed, positioning it as a mature, low-maintenance utility. With weekly downloads around 19,000, it remains a used option for developers needing this specific functionality without additional overhead.

Common errors

```
TypeError: oc_get_unix_utc_timestamp_1.getUnixUtcTimestamp is not a function
```
cause Attempting to use `require()` or an incorrect ES module import syntax, or trying to access a named export when the package only offers a default export (or vice-versa).

fix Ensure you are using the correct named import syntax for ES Modules: `import { getUnixUtcTimestamp } from 'oc-get-unix-utc-timestamp';`. If you are in a CommonJS environment, verify the package's actual export structure, though named exports are typical for TypeScript libraries.
```
My timestamps are off by a factor of 1000!
```
cause Misinterpreting the unit of the returned timestamp. This utility is inferred to return milliseconds, but you might be expecting seconds (the traditional Unix timestamp unit).

fix If your application or API expects seconds, convert the result by dividing by 1000 and rounding down: `Math.floor(getUnixUtcTimestamp() / 1000);`. If it expects milliseconds, use the value directly.

Warnings

gotcha The term "Unix timestamp" traditionally refers to the number of *seconds* since the Unix epoch (January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC). However, JavaScript's native `Date.now()` (which this utility likely wraps) returns the time in *milliseconds*. This package is inferred to return milliseconds to align with standard JavaScript `Date` behavior. Always confirm the unit (milliseconds vs. seconds) when integrating with systems expecting Unix timestamps.
Fix: Always explicitly handle or convert the timestamp to the expected unit. If seconds are needed, divide the result by 1000 and use `Math.floor()` to round down to a whole second.
gotcha The package has not been updated in over four years (as of April 2026), with the last publish being October 2021. While this indicates stability for a simple utility, it also means no new features, bug fixes, or dependency updates will be provided.
Fix: For basic timestamp retrieval, this stability is often sufficient. If your project requires a more actively maintained library or advanced time manipulation features, consider alternatives like `date-fns` or `luxon`, or directly using native `Date.now()`.
gotcha This package provides a simple wrapper around basic JavaScript `Date` object functionality (`Date.now()`). For many use cases, directly using `Date.now()` might be sufficient and avoid an extra dependency.
Fix: Evaluate if the convenience of an explicit package name outweighs the overhead of an additional (albeit small) dependency. For minimal applications, `Date.now()` provides the same core functionality for milliseconds since epoch in UTC.

Install

npm install oc-get-unix-utc-timestamp npm
yarn add oc-get-unix-utc-timestamp yarn
pnpm add oc-get-unix-utc-timestamp pnpm

Imports

getUnixUtcTimestamp
wrong:
```
import getUnixUtcTimestamp from 'oc-get-unix-utc-timestamp';
const getUnixUtcTimestamp = require('oc-get-unix-utc-timestamp');
```
correct:
```
import { getUnixUtcTimestamp } from 'oc-get-unix-utc-timestamp';
```
The library primarily uses named exports. Using a default import or CommonJS `require` might result in `undefined` or a `TypeError` if the module system cannot resolve the export. The package ships with TypeScript types.
TypeScript types
```
import type { GetUnixUtcTimestamp } from 'oc-get-unix-utc-timestamp';
```
Type definitions are included with the package. Use `import type` for explicit type imports.

Quickstart

Demonstrates how to import and use `getUnixUtcTimestamp` to retrieve the current UTC Unix timestamp in milliseconds and convert it to seconds or a Date object.

import { getUnixUtcTimestamp } from 'oc-get-unix-utc-timestamp';

// Get the current UTC Unix timestamp in milliseconds
const timestampMs: number = getUnixUtcTimestamp();
console.log(`Current UTC Unix timestamp (ms): ${timestampMs}`);

// To get the timestamp in seconds, divide by 1000 and floor
const timestampSeconds: number = Math.floor(timestampMs / 1000);
console.log(`Current UTC Unix timestamp (seconds): ${timestampSeconds}`);

// Example: Convert to a Date object
const dateFromTimestamp = new Date(timestampMs);
console.log(`Date object from timestamp: ${dateFromTimestamp.toUTCString()}`);

view raw JSON →