Dates & Time
Timestamps, UTC and time-zone traps.
Dates & Time is taught here in 2 lessons, running from Unix timestamps & UTC through to Time zones & UTC offsets. Each lesson takes one topic, shows the working code, and links onward to the next, so the course can be read straight through in order.
| Track | Computer Science Fundamentals |
| Lessons | 2 |
| Level | Beginner |
| Reading time | about 26 minutes |
| Prerequisites | Helpful, but not required: Data Formats |
Lessons
- Unix timestamps & UTCWhy storing time as a single number avoids almost every timezone bug, and the 2038 problem you should know about.
- Time zones & UTC offsetsWhy 'UTC+8' lies, what IANA zone names are for, and how to avoid the classic off-by-one date bugs.
More in Computer Science Fundamentals
Algorithms Data Structures Computer Networks Operating Systems Character Encodings Hashing & Checksums Data Formats Regular Expressions
FAQ
How long does the Dates & Time course take?
It has 2 lessons, about 26 minutes of reading. Expect roughly twice that if you type out and run every example.
Do I need prior experience for Dates & Time?
Not strictly. It helps to have read Data Formats first, because some lessons build on it, but every lesson explains its own assumptions.
What should I read after Dates & Time?
Continue with Regular Expressions (13 lessons), the next course in Computer Science Fundamentals.
Last refreshed 2026-09-18.