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Stopwatch and Timer

A stopwatch and a countdown timer on one page. Count up with lap splits, or count down from any number of minutes, timed from your device clock.

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Quick answer

Switch between two modes: a stopwatch that counts up with lap splits and pause/resume, and a timer that counts down from the minutes you enter. The time is read from your device's clock, so the elapsed and remaining figures stay accurate to a tenth of a second even when the display briefly can't refresh. It works in the browser tab, with nothing to install.

What the Stopwatch and Timer does

The Stopwatch tab counts up from zero: Start, Pause to hold, Lap to record a split, Reset to clear. The Timer tab counts down. Type a number of minutes, press Start and watch it run to zero, where the display turns red to show time is up.

Both read the actual wall-clock time instead of counting frames, so a brief stutter or a busy page doesn't make them drift. One limit to know up front: the end-of-timer signal is visual only (the numbers turn red), so keep the tab in view if missing the end would matter.

How it works

The digits are redrawn with requestAnimationFrame, the browser's loop that runs in step with screen refreshes, which keeps them smooth without draining the battery. The elapsed and remaining time, though, come from Date.now(), your device's wall clock, not from adding up frames. Because of that split, a skipped refresh doesn't matter: the next reading is still correct.

When a tab goes to the background, the browser pauses requestAnimationFrame and the number on screen freezes. As soon as you return, it recalculates from the wall clock and jumps to the right value. The time wasn't lost; the page just couldn't redraw while hidden.

Generation algorithm

  1. Pick a mode. Stopwatch counts up from zero; Timer counts down from the minutes you enter (it opens at 5).
  2. Mark a start time. On Start the tool records the wall-clock time, and for a timer the target end time.
  3. Refresh the display. requestAnimationFrame redraws the digits in step with the screen; each frame's value is computed from the wall clock.
  4. Handle laps and pause. Lap records the current reading; Pause banks the elapsed time so resuming carries on from there.
  5. Signal the end. When a timer reaches zero the readout stops at 00:00.0 and turns red.

Technical details

ModesStopwatch (count up) and Timer (count down)
DisplayMM:SS.t (minutes, seconds and tenths)
Stopwatch controlsStart, Pause, Lap, Reset
Timer inputWhole minutes (opens at 5)
Timing sourceDevice wall clock (Date.now)
Display looprequestAnimationFrame
End signalReadout turns red; no sound
PersistenceNone; a refresh clears it
Where it runsIn your browser

Standards and references

  • Date.now (wall clock): the device timestamp the elapsed and remaining time are computed from, so the reading doesn't drift with frame rate.
  • requestAnimationFrame: the browser loop that runs in step with the display refresh. It redraws the digits smoothly and pauses while a tab is hidden.
  • Background-tab throttling: browsers pause the refresh loop and slow timers in hidden tabs. The display stops, but the wall-clock maths stays correct.

Accuracy and limits

It is accurate to about a tenth of a second, which is the display precision. The time comes from your device clock, so it won't drift the way a simple frame counter can, but it is a convenience timer, not a calibrated instrument for sports finishes or lab work.

The timer's only alert is visual: the numbers turn red at zero. There is no beep and no browser notification, so don't rely on it while the tab is hidden or you're looking elsewhere.

In a background or inactive tab the display stops updating, because the browser pauses the refresh loop to save power. Switch back and it shows the correct time straight away; the count carried on, the page just couldn't draw while hidden.

Nothing is saved. Refreshing or closing the tab resets the stopwatch, the laps and the timer to zero.

Long runs are fine (past 99 minutes the readout shows more digits), but the page has to stay open for the count to continue.

Real-world uses

Workouts and intervals

Time rounds, rests or a plank with the countdown, or stack up laps on the stopwatch.

Cooking and brewing

Set a few minutes for steeping tea, boiling an egg or proving dough.

Focused work

Run a fixed work block and stop when the timer turns red. The Pomodoro preset does this at 25 minutes.

Timing tasks and games

Use the stopwatch with laps to time a speech, an experiment, a drill or a board-game turn.

When it fits, and when it doesn't

Good for

  • Quick timing without installing an app
  • Lap splits and pause/resume on a stopwatch
  • A visible countdown you keep on screen
  • One-off timing where a tenth of a second is plenty

Not the best choice for

  • An alarm you'll rely on with the tab hidden, since it makes no sound
  • Certified or millisecond-accurate sports or lab timing
  • A countdown to a future date or time of day
  • Timing that must survive a page refresh

Want a 25-minute focus preset? Use the Pomodoro timer. Want it to open straight on the countdown? Use the countdown timer. Counting down to a calendar date needs a different kind of tool.

Frequently asked questions

Is the stopwatch accurate?
Yes, to about a tenth of a second. The time comes from your device clock, so it doesn't drift with frame rate. It is a convenience timer rather than a certified instrument, so don't use it to settle a photo finish.
Does the timer make a sound when it ends?
No. The only signal is the readout turning red. There is no beep and no notification, so keep the tab visible if you might otherwise miss it.
What happens if I switch tabs?
The display pauses, because the browser stops the refresh loop in a hidden tab. The time is still worked out from the wall clock, so the correct value appears as soon as you come back.
Does it keep running if I minimise the window?
The time is still correct when you return, but the number on screen won't update while the tab is hidden, and there is no alert at zero.
Can I save my laps or the running time?
No. The page stores nothing and a refresh clears everything, so write down anything you need to keep.
How do I record splits?
On the Stopwatch tab, press Lap. Each split is captured at the current reading and listed underneath.
Can I set seconds rather than minutes?
The timer takes minutes. You can enter a fraction such as 0.5 for thirty seconds, but there is no separate seconds field.
Can I count down to a specific date?
No. It counts down a number of minutes, not to a calendar date or a clock time.
Why did the number freeze and then jump?
The tab was in the background. The browser paused the redraw, and when you returned it recalculated from the clock and jumped to the right time.
Does it work offline?
Yes, once the page has loaded. It makes no network calls, so a patchy connection doesn't affect it.
How is the time shown?
As minutes:seconds.tenths (MM:SS.t). Past 99 minutes it adds another digit to the minutes.
Is this the same tool as the countdown and Pomodoro timers?
Yes. Both open this same engine on its Timer mode, with the Pomodoro set to 25 minutes, so the three pages share one timer.

References

Elapsed and remaining time come from your device's wall clock (Date.now) rather than a count of animation frames, so the reading stays correct even when the display can't refresh.

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