Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Timer
open-in-new
<p>A timer or countdown timer is a type of <a href="/facts/Clock/MYolzNkw">clock</a> that starts from a specified time duration and stops upon reaching 00:00. It can also usually be stopped manually before the whole duration has elapsed. An example of a simple timer is an <a href="/facts/Hourglass/Dh43ssjk">hourglass</a>. Commonly, a timer triggers an alarm when it ends. A timer can be implemented through <a href="/facts/Electronic_hardware/fKcrTv2f">hardware</a> or <a href="/facts/Software/RP79lVSW">software</a>. <a href="/facts/Stopwatch/MpK39IG9"><i>Stopwatches</i></a> operate in the opposite direction, upwards from 00:00, measuring elapsed time since a given time instant. <i><a href="/facts/Time_switch/WKbTW7sr">Time switches</a></i> are timers that control an electric <a href="/facts/Switch/vqbNDgYm">switch</a>. </p>