What is the difference between UNIX timestamps and MySQL timestamps?

Actually, both Unix timestamp and MySQL timestamp are stored as 32-bit integers, but MySQL timestamp is represented in the readable format of YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS format.

UNIX timestamps and MySQL timestamps are both used to represent points in time, but they differ in their formats and usage:

  1. UNIX Timestamps:
    • UNIX timestamps, also known as epoch time or POSIX time, represent the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC.
    • They are represented as a single integer value, making them simple and efficient for storing and manipulating time data.
    • UNIX timestamps are independent of any specific database system and are widely used in various programming languages and systems beyond MySQL.
  2. MySQL Timestamps:
    • MySQL timestamps are a data type specific to the MySQL database system.
    • They represent points in time ranging from January 1, 1970, 00:00:01 UTC, to December 31, 9999, 23:59:59 UTC.
    • MySQL timestamps are stored in a format of YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS, and they can also include fractional seconds.
    • Unlike UNIX timestamps, MySQL timestamps are aware of time zones. They are stored internally in UTC but can be displayed in different time zones based on the server’s settings or session time zone variables.

In summary, while both UNIX timestamps and MySQL timestamps represent time, the key differences lie in their formats, range, and handling of time zones. MySQL timestamps are specific to the MySQL database system and include additional features like time zone awareness, while UNIX timestamps are a more generic representation of time used across different systems and programming languages.