Taimer

Taimer is a term used in Estonian-language contexts to refer to a device or software function that measures or enforces time intervals. The word is a loanword from the English timer and appears in technical documentation, consumer electronics interfaces, and educational texts. In general, a taimer can be a physical device such as a kitchen timer or mechanical timer, or a software component that generates time delays or schedules future actions.

Hardware timers are built into microprocessors and integrated circuits and provide precise timing signals. They can count time intervals, generate periodic interrupts, or produce a pulse train, and are used in control systems, embedded devices, and digital circuits. Software timers are implemented by operating systems or applications and rely on a system clock to schedule callbacks, timeouts, or periodic tasks. They offer flexibility and are common in programming languages and frameworks.

A taimer may count up or down, provide an audible or visual alert, and can be programmable to trigger at specified moments. Accuracy and stability depend on clock sources, temperature, and calibration in some devices.

Common applications include household appliances such as ovens and kettles, industrial automation, photography and videography timing, sports timing, and network protocols that require timed events. The concept predates digital electronics, with mechanical timers remaining in use for simple timing tasks.

See also: timer, countdown timer, stopwatch.