What is the baseline date for the Google default time format?

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SUMMARY

The baseline date for the Google default time format, represented as a 10-digit number starting with 1570, is Unix time, which counts the number of seconds since January 1, 1970, at 00:00 UTC. This format is commonly used in XML files and programming languages for date and time representation. The specific range for a 10-digit number beginning with 1570 corresponds to dates between October 2, 2019, and October 13, 2019. Leap seconds are ignored in Unix time, making each day exactly 86,400 seconds.

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  • Understanding of Unix time and its significance in computing
  • Familiarity with XML file formats and their structure
  • Basic knowledge of date and time conversion methods
  • Experience with programming languages that handle date functions
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  • Research "Unix time conversion functions" in programming languages like Python and JavaScript
  • Explore online tools for converting Unix time to human-readable formats
  • Learn about "epoch time" and its applications in software development
  • Investigate the implications of leap seconds on timekeeping systems
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WWGD
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TL;DR
How to decode Google time into Human.
Hi,
Just opened some .xml file in which time is given as a 10 digit number starting with 1570. I assume it represents the number of seconds from some baseline date. Anyone know if this is it and if so, the baseline date?
Thanks.
 
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WWGD said:
Thank you. Just looked it up , it is the number of seconds from/since January 1 00:00 . I will start using it ;).
Yes, Unix time is the number of seconds since 00:00 on 1 January 1970. Note that leap seconds are ignored i.e. each day in Unix time is exactly 86,400 seconds.
 
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pbuk said:
Yes, Unix time is the number of seconds since 00:00 on 1 January 1970. Note that leap seconds are ignored i.e. each day in Unix time is exactly 86,400 seconds.
Yes, thanks, my bad, I just edited. it seems kind of a pain to go back and forth between the dating systems. I guess we divide by 31557600 and add the quotient to 1970, then we kind of run into issues with the remainder since months have unequal number of days. Not impossible but doesn't seem straightforward. Sure someone has come up with a nice enough translator. Edit: Will look one up and post it if I find one when I get more time.
 
There's actually a cunning formula which I can't lay my hands on at the moment, but conversion functions exist for most languages, or you can use any of many online converters (search 'unix converter' or 'epoch converter').

Edit: or use this one:
 
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