# Timestamps with `getTime()`

`Date.getTime()` returns a timestamp in milliseconds since Unix epoch.

## Example

```ts
const startTime = start.getTime();
```

## Why this is useful

Numeric timestamps are easy to compare:

```ts
startTime >= rangeStart
startTime <= rangeEnd
```

Comparing numbers is usually simpler and safer than comparing date strings directly.

## Python comparison

```py
start_ts_ms = int(start_dt.timestamp() * 1000)
```

Both represent an absolute moment in time.