---
name: time
status: documented
runtime: pp
source: src/runtime/pp/time.rs
---
```{index} single: time; Perl built-in (pp runtime)
```

# time

## Synopsis

```perl
my $now = time();             # e.g. 1704067200
my $core = CORE::time;        # always integer, bypasses overrides
# with: use Time::HiRes qw(time);
my $hires = time();           # e.g. 1704067200.123456
```

## Description

Returns the number of seconds since the Unix epoch.

Returns the current time as a non-negative integer representing
whole seconds elapsed since 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC (the Unix
epoch).

If `Time::HiRes::time` has been imported into the current package
(overriding the builtin), this op dispatches to the high-resolution
version which returns a floating-point value with microsecond
precision.  The `CORE::time` form (SPECIAL flag set) always uses
the integer builtin, bypassing any override.

## See also

localtime, gmtime, Time::HiRes