Common Era

The Common Era (CE), sometimes known as the Current Era or as the Christian Era, is the period of measured time beginning with the year 1 (the traditional birthdate of Jesus) to the present. The time before this is correspondingly known as Before the Common Era or Before the Christian Era (BCE).

The notations CE and BCE are alternatives for the previously popular AD ("Anno Domini", Latin for "in the year of the Lord") and BC ("Before Christ"), respectively. They may also be written C.E. and B.C.E.