Perl provides excellent support for Unix timestamps through its built-in time functions and the DateTime module. This guide covers all the essential operations you need to handle epoch time in Perl.
How to get the current epoch time
timeMore Perl
Convert from human-readable date to epoch
Use the Perl Epoch routinesConvert from epoch to human-readable date
Use the Perl Epoch routinesAdditional Perl Examples
Using DateTime Module
use DateTime;
my $dt = DateTime->from_epoch(epoch => 1609459200);
print $dt->strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S');The DateTime module provides more advanced date/time manipulation capabilities.
Converting Date String to Epoch
use Time::Local;
my ($year, $month, $day, $hour, $min, $sec) = (2024, 1, 1, 12, 0, 0);
my $epoch = timelocal($sec, $min, $hour, $day, $month-1, $year-1900);Use Time::Local module to convert date components to epoch time.
About Perl Unix Timestamps
Perl provides excellent support for Unix timestamps through its built-in time functions and the DateTime module. The time() function is the simplest way to get current timestamps, while the DateTime module provides comprehensive date and time handling capabilities. This guide covers all essential timestamp operations in Perl, including getting current timestamps, converting between timestamps and dates, and working with timezone-aware operations.
Related guides: Check out our guides for other programming languages: JavaScript, Python, PHP, and more. For timestamp conversion tools, visit our Tools page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get the current Unix timestamp in Perl?
Use time() to get the current Unix timestamp in seconds. For more advanced operations, use the DateTime module which provides comprehensive date and time handling capabilities.
How do I convert a Unix timestamp to a date in Perl?
Use localtime($timestamp) or gmtime($timestamp) for basic conversions, or use the DateTime module: DateTime->from_epoch(epoch => $timestamp). The DateTime module provides more formatting options and timezone support.
Should I use the built-in time functions or the DateTime module?
For simple operations, the built-in time() and localtime() functions are sufficient. For complex date operations, timezone handling, or better formatting options, use the DateTime module which is more powerful and flexible.