Glossary

Unix Timestamp

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A Unix timestamp is the number of seconds since January 1, 1970 UTC. Unix timestamps are a digital standard for denoting an exact, universal time. Unix timestamps are used in every block in order to ensure that blocks only accumulate in a chronological order. Timestamps can also be used in transactions to create a timelock.

Related Terms
Timelock
A Bitcoin transaction can be created such that the recipient of the outputs cannot spend them before a specified time. This time can be specified in UTC time or block height.
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Block Header
A block header contains the metadata about a block of transactions. The block header, not the entire block, is what is actually being hashed to produce the Proof-of-Work.
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UTC
Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) is a specific timezone and is used as a standard for international timekeeping. UTC used to be known as Greenwich Mean Time or GMT.
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