Unix Timestamp (Epoch Seconds) Regex for PHP

What this pattern does

This page provides a lightweight, single-purpose regular expression for matching unix timestamp (epoch seconds), ported and verified for PHP. A rigorously tested regex reduces debugging time and protects your application from edge-case failures. The snippet below is ready to drop into your PHP project — whether you're validating in a Laravel validator, a WordPress plugin, or a standalone PHP script.

Php Implementation

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

define('UNIX_TIMESTAMP_EPOCH_SECONDS_PATTERN', '/^-?[0-9]{1,13}$/');

function validate_unix_timestamp_epoch_seconds(string $input): bool {
    return (bool) preg_match(UNIX_TIMESTAMP_EPOCH_SECONDS_PATTERN, $input);
}

// Example
var_dump(validate_unix_timestamp_epoch_seconds("0")); // bool(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 PHP developers because especially relevant in PHP where PCRE backtracking limits can trigger silent failures on malicious input. 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.