Unix Timestamp (Epoch Seconds) Regex for Python

What this pattern does

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

Python Implementation

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

import re

unix_timestamp_epoch_seconds_pattern = re.compile(r'^-?[0-9]{1,13}$')

def validate_unix_timestamp_epoch_seconds(value: str) -> bool:
    return bool(unix_timestamp_epoch_seconds_pattern.fullmatch(value))

# Example
print(validate_unix_timestamp_epoch_seconds("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 Python developers because particularly important in Python web servers where CPU-bound regex operations can stall concurrent request handling. 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.