Timelimit

Timelimit is a constraint on the maximum duration allowed for a task. In computing, a timelimit can apply to a program, script, or operation, and can refer to wall-clock time (real elapsed time) or to CPU time (processor time consumed). Time limits are used to ensure fairness, enforce performance requirements, and prevent resource starvation.

Enforcement of timelimits is provided by operating systems and runtimes through mechanisms such as watchdog timers, signals, or resource controls. In Unix-like systems, a process can be terminated when a CPU-time limit or wall-clock limit is reached; batch systems and job schedulers often assign timelimits to jobs. In programming and testing environments, time limits are common in online judges and continuous integration to bound execution time. In networking, timeouts serve a similar purpose for idle connections or response latency.

When a timelimit is exceeded, the running task is typically terminated, possibly with a signal or an error status. Some environments support soft limits (warnings before enforcement) and hard limits (no escalation). Implementations may attempt to perform cleanup or save state before exit.

Timelimits are used to prevent long-running tasks from blocking resources, to enforce deadlines in real-time systems, and to bound exploration in automated testing. Tools may provide options to extend, suspend, or automatically retry tasks within a larger workflow.

See also: timeouts, deadlines, timeboxing, watchdog timer, CPU time limit.