<p>In the network protocol, times are represented as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_time" rel="nofollow">Unix timestamps</a> stored as <em>unsigned</em> 32-bit integers.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>is this time converted to 32bit hex for hash calculation, if so how ?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Bitcoin uses a binary protocol. Nothing is hex. When viewing the binary data, your tools may <em>display</em> the data in hex, but you can't directly use these hex characters for hashing, etc.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-18T00:03:18.287Z
2013-10-18T00:03:18.287Z
theymos
<p>What is the timestamp used for the blocks on blockexplorer.com 
For example block 233969 has: 
<strong>Time: 2013-04-30 23:27:36</strong> </p>

<p>is this time converted to 32bit hex for hash calculation, if so how ?</p>

<block><hash><timestamp>
understanding timestamp from blockexplorer.com
Meir
# understanding timestamp from blockexplorer.com

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-10-17)

What is the timestamp used for the blocks on blockexplorer.com
For example block 233969 has:
**Time: 2013-04-30 23:27:36**

is this time converted to 32bit hex for hash calculation, if so how ?

**Tags:** block, hash, timestamp


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-10-18. Score: 1

In the network protocol, times are represented as [Unix timestamps](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unix_time) stored as *unsigned* 32-bit integers.

> is this time converted to 32bit hex for hash calculation, if so how ?

Bitcoin uses a binary protocol. Nothing is hex. When viewing the binary data, your tools may *display* the data in hex, but you can't directly use these hex characters for hashing, etc.


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