klokketime

Klokketime is a term used to refer to the civil or clock time that is shown on a clock or digital display. It denotes the time of day as measured by a clock, typically expressed in a 24-hour format for daily schedules, calendars, and railway or airline timetables. The concept is distinct from solar time, which is determined by the position of the sun, and from other time scales such as sidereal time.

Etymology and usage notes: The word derives from Germanic roots where a word for clock or bell is combined with time. In several Nordic and Central European languages, forms of klokke or klokka plus time are used to express the idea of clock time. In those languages, klokketid or klokketime is commonly contrasted with soltid or solar time, the latter referring to the sun-based measure of a day. In English discussions, the closest terms are clock time or civil time.

Technological and measurement context: In computing and data analysis, the analogous concept is wall-clock time, the actual elapsed real-world time from start to finish of an operation or interval. This is used alongside CPU time, which measures the processor time consumed. In everyday use, klokketime underpins scheduling, records, and legal time standards.

History and significance: The adoption of standardized clock time and time zones in the 19th century facilitated railways, communications, and international commerce. Klokketime remains the foundation of daily life, coordinating work hours, transportation, and public services across regions.