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# convertTimeToEpoch

> Use the convertTimeToEpoch task to convert a date/timestamp to Epoch Time.

The `convertTimeToEpoch` task converts a date/timestamp to Epoch Time — the number of seconds (or milliseconds) elapsed since January 1, 1970 (midnight UTC/GMT).

## Potential use case

Use this task when a workflow needs to provide an input timestamp to a downstream interface or system that requires Epoch Time format.

## Properties

| Incoming      | Type   | Description                                                                                 |
| :------------ | :----- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `inputTime`   | Object | Required. The date/timestamp to convert.                                                    |
| `EpochFormat` | Enum   | Required. The Epoch format for the output. Allowed values: `"Seconds"` or `"Milliseconds"`. |

| Outgoing    | Type   | Description                                                                                                                            |
| :---------- | :----- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `epochTime` | Number | The converted date/timestamp value as seconds or milliseconds since January 1, 1970 (midnight UTC/GMT), as specified by `EpochFormat`. |

## Example 1

In this example:

* The `inputTime` variable comes from the `getTime` reference task. The reference variable is `time`.
* The `EpochFormat` is set to `Seconds`.
* The output `epochTime` will be the `inputTime` value expressed in seconds since January 1, 1970.

![](/_fern-img/05f39ef5a975feaf8c496e3fd1781894775d5446dc1f20d53546889cb7024982.webp)

## Example 2

In this example:

* The `inputTime` variable comes from the `getTime` reference task. The reference variable is `time`.
* The `EpochFormat` is set to `Milliseconds`.
* The output `epochTime` will be the `inputTime` value expressed in milliseconds since January 1, 1970.

![](/_fern-img/1a0c3e3b0199c45573bcb808fb43d930ea3e8d5c6d6f11173f9613ff73595ca6.webp)

## Manual reference variable entry

To enter the `inputTime` object manually, use the Year-Month-Date-Time format (`yyyy-MM-dd 'T' HH:mm:ss.SSSZ`):

```json
{"time": "2021-02-26T15:00:00.000Z"}
```

This displays as:

```
2021-02-25 03:00.00
```

> Use the convertTimeToEpoch task to convert a date/timestamp to Epoch Time.