parse datetime number in html field

Question

This is a sample of datetime field:

1615717137369

It means 2 days ago (from 16 march, 13:24)

How can I parse the number?

P.S: These are some examples:

16 15 89 8678037    16 March 16:15 ( 5 min ago)
16 15 89 8259356    16 March 16:08 (12 min ago)
16 15 89 791 8713   16 March 16:03 (17 min ago)
16 15 89 791 4439   16 March 16:03 (17 min ago)
16 15 89 791 0813   16 March 16:03 (17 min ago)
16 15 89 210 4036   16 March 14:20 ( 2  hr ago)
16 15 64 022 8942   13 March       (3 days ago)
16 10 43 350 1644   13 Jan         (2 month ago)
```

Looks like the number of milliseconds since the Unix epoch (1 Jan 1970 midnight UTC). — Emil Jeřábek, Mar 16 '21 at 21:32

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 17 '21 at 06:28

2

As Emil said, That is the number of milliseconds since the Unix epoch (1 Jan 1970 midnight UTC).

answered Mar 17 '21 at 06:28

omid jahadi

41
5

So what are you doing the next time you see an unknown time format? Ask another question? Or figure it out yourself? – gnasher729 Mar 17 '21 at 07:42
@gnasher729 Thank you for your concern, but how many times may I see different time formats?! – omid jahadi Mar 17 '21 at 08:47
Milliseconds is actually rare outside windows because it is so inappropriate. Therefore: a lot. – gnasher729 Mar 17 '21 at 16:41

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 16 '21 at 10:11

The data you have is just a large integer. So you parse it like you would parse any large integer. Now there should be documentation what the integer means - if there is none then you will guess.

If the number was days since a date X, calculate what X would be. If the number was seconds since a date X, calculate what X would be. If the number was nanoseconds since a date X, calculate what X would be. Maybe it's a different unit. Pick what unit gives the most reasonable looking date. For example, if X is the year 1582 (introduction of the Gregorian calendar), that would be quite reasonable.

PS. I hate Windows. Giving dates using milliseconds is perverted IMO.

parse datetime number in html field

2 Answers2