# Timestamping (computing)

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{{Short description|Event metadata}}

In [computing](/source/computing), '''timestamping''' refers to the use of an electronic [timestamp](/source/timestamp) to provide a temporal order among a set of events.

Timestamping techniques are used in a variety of computing fields, from [network management](/source/network_management) and  [computer security](/source/computer_security) to [concurrency control](/source/concurrency_control).<ref>''Advances in Computer Science and Information Technology'' by Tai-hoon Kim, Hojjat Adeli 2010 {{ISBN|3642135765}} page 183</ref><ref>''Computer aided verification: 13th International conference'', by Gérard Berry, Hubert Comon, A. Finkel 2001 {{ISBN|3540423451}} page 423</ref> For instance, a [heartbeat network](/source/heartbeat_network) uses timestamping to monitor the nodes on a high availability [computer cluster](/source/computer_cluster).<ref name=HBN>''Theoretical Aspects of Distributed Computing in Sensor Networks'' by Sotiris Nikoletseas and José D.P. Rolim 2011 {{ISBN|3642148484}} page 304 </ref>

Timestamping computer files (updating [the timestamp](/source/stat_(system_call)) in the per-file [metadata](/source/file_system) every time a file is modified) makes it possible to use efficient [build automation](/source/build_automation) tools.

==See also==
* [Trusted timestamping](/source/Trusted_timestamping)
* [Timestamp-based concurrency control](/source/Timestamp-based_concurrency_control)
* [Lamport timestamp](/source/Lamport_timestamp)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Computer network security
Category:Concurrency control
Category:Transaction processing

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Timestamping (computing)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timestamping_(computing)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timestamping_(computing)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.