{{Short description|Event metadata}}
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.<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 uses timestamping to monitor the nodes on a high availability 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 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== {{Reflist}}
Category:Computer network security Category:Concurrency control Category:Transaction processing
{{compu-stub}}