How Our Stopwatch Works
Our online stopwatch is more than just a simple timer. It's a precision tool designed for a wide range of activities, from sports and workouts to professional tasks and experiments. Below is a guide to help you master its powerful features.
Core Stopwatch Functions: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Start and Pause: Click the green Start button to begin timing. The button will turn into a red Pause button. Click it at any time to halt the timer. The total elapsed time will be preserved. Clicking Start again will resume the timer from where it left off.
- Record Splits (Laps): While the timer is running, click the Split button. This action records the current time as a "lap" in the table below without interrupting the main timer. It's perfect for timing individual laps in a race or segments of a workout. The smaller "split timer" display will reset to zero, allowing you to time the next interval easily.
- Reset: Once the timer is paused, you can click the Reset button. This will completely clear the current time, all recorded laps, and event logs, returning the stopwatch to its initial state. A confirmation will be required to prevent accidental data loss.
Understanding the Lap and Event Table
Every time you press Split, Pause, or Resume, a new entry is added to the log table.
- Label: You can click on the default label (e.g., "Split 1") to give it a custom name, like "Runner A Finish" or "First Mile".
- Interval: This shows the time elapsed since the last split was recorded.
- Total: This shows the total elapsed time from the very beginning up to that split point.
- Show more details: Check this box to reveal the exact timestamp when each event was recorded and a button to delete individual entries.
Advanced Features & Utilities
- Export Your Data: Click the export icon (↑) to open a dialog. You can copy all your timing data to the clipboard or download it as a .txt file, perfect for analysis in spreadsheets or other applications.
- Session Restore: If you accidentally close the browser tab or your browser crashes, don't worry! The next time you visit, the stopwatch will offer to restore your previous session, including the elapsed time and all recorded laps.
- Light & Dark Mode: Use the sun/moon icon to toggle between light and dark themes for comfortable viewing in any environment.
- Fullscreen Mode: Click the fullscreen icon for a focused, distraction-free timing experience that fills the entire screen.
- Sound Cues: Audible clicks provide feedback for start, pause, and split actions, so you can operate the timer without looking at the screen. You can mute/unmute these sounds with the sound icon (🔊).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the stopwatch accurate?
Yes. It uses your browser's high-resolution `performance.now()` API for millisecond accuracy. The display updates frequently to stay in sync with the internal timer.
What happens if I close my browser?
Your session is automatically saved to your browser's local storage. When you return to the page, a banner will appear asking if you'd like to restore your session. The time that passed while the page was closed will be automatically added to your total elapsed time.
Can I give custom names to my splits?
Absolutely. In the lap table, simply click on the text in the "Label" column (e.g., "Split 1") and you can type in any name you want.
Is my timing data private?
Yes, 100%. All timing data, laps, and settings are stored directly in your browser. Nothing is ever sent to our servers. Your data is your own.