Unix Timestamp (Epoch Seconds) Regex for JavaScript

What this pattern does

This page provides a lightweight, single-purpose regular expression for matching unix timestamp (epoch seconds), ported and verified for JavaScript. A rigorously tested regex reduces debugging time and protects your application from edge-case failures. The snippet below is ready to drop into your JavaScript project — whether you're validating in an Express middleware, a Next.js API route, or a client-side form.

Javascript Implementation

// Unix Timestamp (Epoch Seconds)
// ReDoS-safe | RegexVault — Localization > Time Formats

const unixTimestampEpochSecondsRegex = /^-?[0-9]{1,13}$/;

function validateUnixTimestampEpochSeconds(input: string): boolean {
  return unixTimestampEpochSecondsRegex.test(input);
}

// Example
console.log(validateUnixTimestampEpochSeconds("0")); // true

Test Cases

When to use this pattern

This pattern is drawn from the Localization > Time Formats category and carries a ReDoS-safe certification. That matters for JavaScript developers because especially critical in long-running Node.js event loops where a ReDoS vulnerability can block the entire process. RegexVault audits patterns against known backtracking attack vectors, ensuring you have the necessary context before using this regex in a high-stakes production environment.

Common Pitfalls

Technical Notes

Epoch 0 = 1970-01-01T00:00:00Z. Current timestamps are around 1.7 billion (10 digits). 13 digits = milliseconds. The maximum 32-bit epoch (Jan 19, 2038) causes the Y2K38 problem for systems using signed 32-bit integers.