Epoch time

Epoch time, also known as Unix time or POSIX time, is a way computers measure time by counting the total seconds that have passed since a specific starting point: January 1, 1970, at midnight UTC. It provides a simple, standardized way for systems to record, compare, and process dates and times across different platforms without dealing with time zones or leap years. This timestamp is widely used in programming, data management, and communication between devices because it offers a consistent, numeric representation of time.