How to convert Datetime to Unix timestamp in Elixir

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    # Convert DateTime to Unix timestamp
    date_time = DateTime.utc_now() |> DateTime.from_naive!("Etc/UTC")
    date_time = DateTime.new!(~U[2022-05-15 08:12:43Z])
    unix_timestamp = DateTime.to_unix(date_time)
    
    IO.puts("Unix Timestamp: #{unix_timestamp}")

Output:

Unix Timestamp: 1652602363

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

Code Explanation

In this Elixir example, we first create a DateTime object for '2022-05-15 08:12:43' UTC using DateTime.new!(~U[...]) syntax.
The DateTime.to_unix() function is then used to convert the DateTime object into a Unix timestamp.
The result is the Unix timestamp '1652602363', which is printed. This method simplifies converting human-readable date-time values into Unix timestamps.

Convert Unix timestamp to Date in Elixir

Other useful Elixir date functions

Function	Description	Example
`DateTime.utc_now()`	Returns the current UTC date and time as a `DateTime` object.	`DateTime.utc_now()` returns 2024-08-28 16:34:56Z
`DateTime.from_unix()`	Converts a Unix timestamp (in seconds or milliseconds) to a `DateTime` object.	`DateTime.from_unix(1652602245)` returns 2022-05-15 08:10:45Z
`DateTime.to_unix()`	Converts a `DateTime` object to a Unix timestamp in seconds or milliseconds.	`DateTime.to_unix(date_time)` returns 1652602245
`NaiveDateTime.new()`	Creates a `NaiveDateTime` object from specified values (year, month, day, hour, minute, second).	`NaiveDateTime.new(2022, 5, 15, 8, 30, 45)` returns 2022-05-15 08:10:45
`Date.new()`	Creates a `Date` object for a specific date (year, month, day).	`Date.new(2022, 5, 15)` returns 2022-05-15
`Date.add()`	Adds a number of days to a `Date` object.	`Date.add(Date.utc_today(), 5)` adds 5 days to the current date.
`Date.diff()`	Returns the number of days between two `Date` objects.	`Date.diff(Date.utc_today(), Date.new(2022, 5, 15))` returns the difference in days.
`DateTime.add()`	Adds a number of seconds to a `DateTime` object.	`DateTime.add(date_time, 3600)` adds 1 hour to the date.
`DateTime.compare()`	Compares two `DateTime` objects.	`DateTime.compare(date_time1, date_time2)` returns :lt, :eq, :gt (less than, equal, greater than).

Current Unix Timestamp SECONDS SINCE JAN 01 1970

Current UTC Time

2025-08-20