Timestamping (computing)

In computing, timestamping refers to the use of an electronic timestamp to provide a temporal order among a set of events.

Timestamping techniques are used in a variety of computing fields, from network management and computer security to concurrency control.^[1][2] For instance, a heartbeat network uses timestamping to monitor the nodes on a high availability computer cluster.^[3]

Timestamping computer files (updating the timestamp in the per-file metadata every time a file is modified) makes it possible to use efficient build automation tools.

See also

• Trusted timestamping
• Timestamp-based concurrency control
• Lamport timestamp

References

1. Advances in Computer Science and Information Technology by Tai-hoon Kim, Hojjat Adeli 2010 ISBN 3642135765 page 183
2. Computer aided verification: 13th International conference, by Gérard Berry, Hubert Comon, A. Finkel 2001 ISBN 3540423451 page 423
3. Theoretical Aspects of Distributed Computing in Sensor Networks by Sotiris Nikoletseas and José D.P. Rolim 2011 ISBN 3642148484 page 304