Overview

Icanhazepoch is a minimalist API that returns the current Unix epoch timestamp as a plain integer, with no frills and no authentication required. It is useful for quick timestamp lookups in scripts or for testing time-sensitive logic without depending on local system clocks. Note that the original icanhazepoch service has been retired; check the linked announcement for any active mirrors.

Beginner Tip

This is one of the simplest possible APIs — just GET the endpoint and you receive a single number representing the current Unix timestamp in seconds. No JSON parsing required. It is a perfect first API call for complete beginners learning curl or fetch.

Available Data

The kind of data this API exposes, based on its documentation. We could not call the endpoint to confirm the exact field names.

Use case: Integrate get epoch time data into web and mobile applications
Icanhazepoch data via REST API

Example Response

Illustrative shape only — we were not able to call this endpoint (it requires credentials or exposes no public sample URL), so the fields below show the kind of data this API returns rather than a recorded response.

JSON Response · Illustrative
{
  "status": "success",
  "data": {
    "result": "Data from Icanhazepoch",
    "description": "Get Epoch time",
    "timestamp": "2025-01-15T10:00:00Z"
  }
}

Field Reference

(plain text body) The current Unix epoch time in seconds returned as a plain integer string with no JSON wrapper.

Implementation Example

Calls a real endpoint of this API. Replace any placeholder credentials with your own key.

Request
const url = "https://icanhazepoch.com/";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

Generated guidance based on this API's documentation, not observed by us. Treat it as a starting point and check against the provider's own error reference.

Service unavailable or DNS failure The original icanhazepoch.com service has been shut down
Use an alternative such as https://worldtimeapi.org/api/timezone/UTC which returns epoch time in its JSON response.
Non-JSON response The response is plain text, not JSON
Do not JSON.parse the response — treat it directly as a number string.
Stale timestamp Caching layer returned an old value
Add a cache-busting query parameter like ?t= with the current time if you need the freshest possible value.

Metadata Score Breakdown

Estimated from metadata — endpoint not independently tested

This score is estimated from observable metadata — HTTPS support, authentication model, declared CORS, and documentation reachability — because the API requires authentication or exposes no publicly testable endpoint. The five-signal breakdown is only shown for live-tested APIs.

Metadata estimate · endpoint not independently tested

Technical Specifications

Auth No Auth
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS YES
Category Development
Difficulty Beginner
Listing details not endpoint-verified

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