Convert a Unix timestamp to time in JavaScript

Deep dive to the rabbit hole

On the fly time extraction

After popping a Date object from a Unix timestamp capsule, extract the specific time points:

let hours = date.getHours(); // Find out the hour
let minutes = date.getMinutes().toString().padStart(2, '0'); // Don't forget the minutes!
let seconds = date.getSeconds().toString().padStart(2, '0'); // ...and the seconds too
let time = `${hours}:${minutes}:${seconds}`; // Stitch together to get the 'HH:MM:SS' fairytale
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Make it feel like home

The toLocaleTimeString() method conveniently handles locale-specific time formatting:

console.log(date.toLocaleTimeString()); // Time wearing cultural attire
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And for more customized locales and options, use your creative powers on Intl.DateTimeFormat:

let formatter = new Intl.DateTimeFormat('en-GB', {
  hour: '2-digit',
  minute: '2-digit',
  second: '2-digit',
  hour12: false
});
console.log(formatter.format(date)); // Custom masquerade in time ball
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The timezone-neutral meeting point

To obtain a timezone-neutral time string, utilize toISOString:

console.log(date.toISOString().slice(11, 19)); // Rounds off to 'HH:MM:SS' from ISO string
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Traps and trolls in the coding forest

• Be mindful that your Unix timestamp is a seconds-ticked bomb, not a milliseconds one.
• Beware of time zones leaping out when displaying times.
• Use the cover of .toLocaleTimeString() over .toString() for better readability.
• Lay the bricks of polyfill for a safe bridge to legacy browser land.

Pro wizard tips and tricks

Handy-dandy time formatting tool

Create yourself a reusable magic wand function for shining on Unix timestamps:

function formatUnixTimestamp(unixTimestamp, format = 'en-US') { 
  const date = new Date(unixTimestamp * 1000); // Cast your time spell here
  return date.toLocaleTimeString(format); // Voila! Your time beast is tamed!
}

console.log(formatUnixTimestamp(1609459200)); // Wave your magic wand!
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Ward off the evil spirits

One evil spell is incorrect formatting; make sure you're not ensnared by HH/MM/SS when it's really HH:MM:SS. And remember to multiply the Unix timestamp by 1000—it's ravenous for milliseconds!

Battle-proofing your code

Combat test your magic wand function:

console.log(formatUnixTimestamp(0)); // Time travel to the dawn of Unix time. Pack your Unix epoch survival kit!
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By entering the field with ready-to-use weapons, you prepare for a successful assault in the real coding world battles.

In the end

As Merlin said: "The most powerful magic requires the most tenacity and practice." Give my answer a wand wave! Enjoy your time-travel adventures! 🧙‍♀️🗝🕰