Last updated: August 2026
How to Use the Online Stopwatch
This online stopwatch is designed to be as simple and intuitive as possible. Click the large play button to start the timer. The milliseconds will begin ticking immediately.
- Play/Pause: Starts or pauses the stopwatch.
- Lap (Flag Icon): While the stopwatch is running, click the lap button to record a split time. This is perfect for timing laps around a track or tracking individual parts of a workout.
- Reset: Clears the timer and deletes all recorded laps.
What are Split Times?
When you click the "Lap" button, the stopwatch records two times. The Total Time is the total amount of time that has elapsed since you first pressed start. The Split Time is the amount of time that elapsed between your previous lap and the current lap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Total time is the complete amount of time that has elapsed since you first pressed start on the stopwatch. Split time is the duration between your previous lap and your current lap, which is useful for tracking individual segments of a run or workout.
Yes, if you switch to another tab or minimize the browser, the online stopwatch will continue to track time. However, to ensure maximum accuracy, it's best to keep the tab active.
It uses your browser's high-resolution performance timer rather than a simple 1-second interval, so it stays accurate to within a few milliseconds — plenty precise for workouts, cooking, or studying.
Yes, you can record as many laps as you want while the stopwatch is running. Each one is added to the list with its own split time and running total time.
Reset clears the timer back to zero and deletes all recorded laps immediately. There's no undo, so make sure you're done reviewing them first.
No, this stopwatch doesn't save its state between page loads. Refreshing or navigating away resets both the timer and the lap list.
You can, but it's a manual stopwatch rather than a repeating interval timer — you'll need to tap Lap or Start/Pause yourself at each interval instead of it cueing you automatically.