How to convert Datetime to Unix timestamp in Crystal

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    # Convert date to Unix timestamp
    date_time = Time.new(2023, 08, 24, 00, 00, 00, Time::Location::UTC)
    unix_timestamp = date_time.to_unix
    
    puts "Unix Timestamp: #{unix_timestamp}"

Output:

Unix Timestamp: 1692835200

Example only. There may be multiple ways to perform this operation.

Code Explanation

In this Crystal example, we create a Time object representing the date '2022-05-15 08:10:45' in UTC. The #to_unix method is then called on the Time object to convert it into a Unix timestamp, which is the number of seconds since January 1, 1970.
The result is the Unix timestamp '1652602245', which matches the original date. This method is simple and direct for converting dates to Unix timestamps in Crystal.

Convert Unix timestamp to Date in Crystal

Other useful Crystal date functions

Function	Description	Example
`Time.now`	Returns the current date and time based on the system's time zone.	`Time.now` returns 2024-08-28 12:34:56
`Time.unix()`	Creates a `Time` object from a Unix timestamp (seconds since January 1, 1970).	`Time.unix(1652602245)` returns 2022-05-15 08:10:45 UTC
`Time.new()`	Creates a `Time` object from specified year, month, day, hour, minute, and second.	`Time.new(2022, 5, 15, 8, 30, 45, Time::Location::UTC)` returns 2022-05-15 08:10:45 UTC
`#to_unix`	Returns the Unix timestamp (seconds since January 1, 1970) for the `Time` object.	`date_time.to_unix` returns 1652602245
`Time.parse()`	Parses a string into a `Time` object based on the provided format.	`Time.parse("2022-05-15 08:10:45", "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")` returns 2022-05-15 08:10:45 UTC
`Time.format()`	Formats a `Time` object as a string according to the provided format.	`date_time.format("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")` returns 2022-05-15 08:10:45
`Time.utc_now`	Returns the current UTC date and time.	`Time.utc_now` returns 2024-08-28 16:34:56 UTC
`Time::Span`	Represents a time span (duration), which can be added or subtracted from `Time` objects.	`time_span = Time::Span.new(5.days)` creates a time span of 5 days.

Current Unix Timestamp SECONDS SINCE JAN 01 1970

Current UTC Time

2025-08-21